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About Debra Warner and Westlake Village Counseling and Trauma Center

Individual and Couple Counseling that Produces Change...

If you are struggling with shame, issues of self-worth, difficulties with life transitions, or past trauma, you might be looking for a way to change this trajectory in life.  We might try to control our lives and struggle to maintain this control.  Despite our attempts to control, we can find ourselves challenged by our present experiences.   


It is my belief that these challenging life events help define us and can be used to help positively define our future. Finding the right help and support during these moments may greatly improve our outcomes.

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Why I Chose to Specialize in Trauma Treatment...

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I have devoted my entire career to specializing in the treatment of physical and emotional trauma.  The results of trauma can have devastating negative impacts on a persons ability to form and maintain healthy relationships with others.  It can feel isolating and leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Trauma can lead to increase in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and attachment issues.

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When working with clients experiencing recent incident trauma or past trauma in childhood, I utilize EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and Brainspotting to help you achieve the changes in life that you desire.

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Life Experience has Guided my Desire to Work with Couples...

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I am passionate about helping couples heal from their past trauma and to understand that many of their current struggles are connected to past negative experiences.  Once they realize that their relationship is not always the origin of the distress, they begin to look at their relationship and their partner through a different lens.

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The truth is that all relationships experience distress, but it is possible to free yourself from past hurts and change negative patterns that block intimacy in your relationship.  You can learn to create more joy and connection with your partner and regain the passionate relationship that you have been longing for. Couples Counseling can provide you with tools to change these negative patterns and transform your relationship. 

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When working with couples, I use a combination of Gottman Method, Emotion Focus Couple Therapy and Prepare Enrich Assessments to help you and your partner reach your goals towards building intimacy and trust.

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If you are looking for someone to help you explore your desire for personal growth or healing, then we can work together to give you the support that you might need to travel along this road toward positive change.

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Debra Warner, M.S., L.M.F.T., is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Westlake Village and is the Founder of Westlake Village Counseling and Trauma Center.  She is Certified in EMDR through EMDRIA and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and she is also Certified in Brainspotting.  Debra is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).  She is providing cutting edge neurobiological trauma treatment. 

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Since 2011, she has provided a number of specialized therapeutic services to those dealing with challenging life experiences. Client well-being is her first priority, and she goes above and beyond to help them through all their obstacles. Get in touch with Debra today for more information.

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My Qualifications

Education and Work Experience

Education & Professional Background

 

Debra graduated with honors from California Lutheran University where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology with an Emphasis in Child and Family Development and a Minor in Gender Studies, followed by a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. 

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She founded Westlake Village Counseling Center in 2014 and expanded the center in 2019 adding 15 experienced trauma therapists to open Westlake Village Counseling and Trauma Center. The counseling center has been serving the needs of the local community since 2014.  

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Debra has been a trauma therapy specialist since 2011 and a Certified EMDR Psychotherapist and member of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association).  She has also trained with Dr. David Grand and is Certified in Brainspotting.  Debra received specialized training under Laurel Parnel and Deany Laliotis for treatment of Attachment Based Trauma and Neglect utilizing Attachment Based EMDR.  Debra has also been trained in Somatic Experience Psychotherapy and Biofeedback for the treatment of trauma. She specializes in treatment of Attachment Injuries, Emotional, Physical and Sexual Abuse and Ritual Abuse  using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) to effectively treat the most deeply embedded and long-held traumatic memories.  She has had the honor of providing trauma therapy to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting incident, Borderline shooting incident and to the victims of the Woolsey fires.  Debra was awarded a grant to expand the trauma center in 2019 from the Women in Economic Recovery and Wells Fargo Bank.  These funds were utilized to bring in highly trained colleagues who specialize in trauma, grief and loss, couple, family and individual therapy, addictions, anxiety and depression.

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Research has shown that the treatment of relational trauma and neglect using EMDR can help clients who have experienced past trauma, and have not resolved the symptoms through previous counseling.  Debra specializes in treatment of recent trauma including accidents or medical trauma, which can sometimes increase anxiety, panic, and if untreated may lead to PTSD.

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Debra also specializes in couple counseling, helping couples who have experienced betrayal trauma, infidelity, or need to build relationships based on deeper levels of trust and intimacy.  In addition, she helps them increase their abilities to communicate effectively and resolve conflict.  As a Level I, II and III trained Gottman Marriage Therapist, Emotion Focus Couple Therapist and Prepare Enrich Facilitator, she has gained experience working in the areas of pre-marital therapy, couples therapy, infidelity, betrayal trauma and divorce recovery.

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Her therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help her clients effectively address their personal life challenges, while integrating complimentary techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to meet the needs of each client. With compassion and understanding, working together to help build on strengths and attain the personal growth that each couple or individual are committed to accomplishing.

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Education and Additional Training

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  • Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy

  • California Lutheran University, 2011

  • License, Certifications & Awards

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #82007, 2014

  • In-Home Family Therapist for Department of Children and Family Services – Valley Trauma Center, 2010

  • Certified Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor – Valley Trauma Center, 2010

  • Member of the Psychology National Honors Society – Psi Chi

  • Breakthrough Parenting Certified Therapist – 2012

  • Certified EMDR Therapist – 2014

  • Additional Training

  • Gottman Marriage Counseling, Level I Training, 2010

  • Prepare Enrich Facilitator, 2011

  • EFT Couple Therapy, Level I, 2014

  • Grief Specialist Training, Our House, 2011

  • Sexual Assault Certification Training Program. Valley Trauma Center, 2011

  • In-Home Outreach Counseling and Adoptions Program. Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, 2011

  • Traumatology Institute Early Intervention Field Traumatology Comprehensive Training, 2011

  • Positive Psychology, 2011

  • On Death and Grieving. CMI Education Institute, 2011

  • Early Intervention Field Traumatology Comprehensive Training. Traumatology Institute, 2011

  • On Death and Grieving. CMI Education Institute, 2011

  • The Neurology of Suggestion. The International Hypnosis Research Institute, 2012

  • Integration: Innovations in Mind/Body Therapies. The International Hypnosis Research Institute, 2012

  • Ellman Hypnotherapy: Beyond the Basics, 2012

  • EMDR Therapist (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)

  • Level I and Level II, EMDR Institute

  • 2011-2012

  • Breakthrough Parenting Certified Instructor, 2012

  • Gottman Marriage Counseling, Level II Training,  2013

  • EMDR Conference, 2014

  • Attachment Based EMDR Laurel Parnell, 2015

  • Certified EMDR Therapist EMDRIA, 2014

  • DBT Skills, 2015

  • Gottman Level III, 2015

  • Managing Dangerous Situations in Mental Health, 2015

  • Suicide Assessment Treatment and Management, 2017

  • Childhood Sexual Abuse, 2017

  • Trauma Screening and Assessment, 2017

  • Relationship Based EMDR Deany Laliotis, 2017

  • Interpersonal Neurobiology of Trauma and Addictions, 2018

  • Neurofeedback Treatment of Trauma, 2018

  • Neuroaffective Embodied Self, 2018

  • EMDR Flash Technique, 2018

  • Somatic Psychotherapy for Trauma Treatment, Trauma Certification Course, 2018

  • Brain Spotting Level I, 2018

  • Law and Ethics, 2018

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), 2018

  • EMDR (CIT) Consultant in Training, 2018

  • Brainspotting Level I, 2019

  • Brainspotting Level II, 2019

  • Brainspotting Level III, 2019

  • Brainspotting Level IV, 2020

  • Brainspotting Master Class, 2021

  • Law and Ethics, 2019

  • Expansion Brainspotting, 2020

  • Certified Brainspotting Psychotherapist, 2020

  • Supervisor Training, 2021

  • Law & Ethics, 2021

  • Suicide Risk Assessment, 2021

  • Ethical Boundaries, 2021

  • Ethics & Telehealth, 2021

  • EMDR & Mindfulness, 2021

  • EMDR & Treatment of Complex PTSD, 2021

  • Brainspotting CIT Consultant in Training, 2022

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Professional Activities and Memberships

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  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA)

  • Member of The National Association of Professional Women, 2008

  • Southern California Society for Clinical Hypnosis, 2011-2012

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