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.
Why I Chose to Specialize in Trauma Treatment...
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.
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.
Life Experience has Guided my Desire to Work with Couples...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Consultant in Training. She is also Certified in Brainspotting. Debra is providing cutting edge neurobiological trauma treatment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Education and Additional Training
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
Law and Ethics, 2019
Expansion Brainspotting, 2020
Certified Brainspotting Psychotherapist, 2020
Professional Activities and Memberships
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