Deborah Lee Jennings is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a private practice in West Bridgewater, MA.  She has provided therapy for adults, children, and families for 15 years. Specialties are  children and adolescents, psychological trauma, and grief.   Previously working at a community mental health center for more than a decade, she brought  extensive training and experience to her  private practice.  

Deborah earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Massachusetts. Her area of focus in graduate school was mental health counseling. She also completed  postgraduate programs at  Boston University School of Social Work to expand her areas of expertise in therapy with individuals and families. Deborah has earned the designation of Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death Education and Counseling. This is the advanced level of certification which  requires extensive training, professional experience, and an examination, to  demonstrate knowledge and competence in the area of death, dying, and bereavement.   Deborah has many years experience  providing therapy for victims of trauma and loss across the the lifespan.

While working at the community mental health center, she provided therapy for a wide range of people with different needs and struggles.  She provided treatment for victims of physical and sexual abuse, negect, child witnesses to violence, and survivors of suicide and homicide with  traumatic and complicated grief issues.  Deborah also has much training and experience working with individuals with anxiety and mood disorders, along with children with ADHD and other disruptive behavior disorders.  Many children have had struggles with developmental delays and other special needs.

During recent years, Deborah has expanded  her training and experience to help bring healing to a deeper level than traditional talk therapy is able to provide.  She is now able to incorporate  therapeutic modalities such as EMDR, Gentle Reprocessing, EFT,  and the Tapas Accupressure Technique into the treatment of both children and adults.  In addition to traditional therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques for adults, children and adolescents, Deborah is trained in play therapy and Theraplay Principles which may be used to help children meet their treatment goals.  
                                                                                                       
 
Education

Graduated from the University of Massachusetts with an MEd degree in Mental Health Counseling.
During Postgraduate Training at Boston University School of Social Work,  Deborah earned certificates in Advanced Psychotherapy for Children and  Adolescents,  Psychological  Trauma, and EMDR Levels 1 and 2.  

Additional Training            

Trained by the Theraplay Institute, Chicago
        
License and Certifications

Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts.
Certified in Thanatology (Death, Dying and Bereavement) by ADEC.

Professional Activities and Memberships

Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association
EMDRIA - International Association for EMDR
New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation
ADEC - Association for Death Education and Counseling
South Shore Coalition of Independent Therapists