The Neurobehavioral Clinic and Counseling Center staff is committed to helping our patients and their loved ones. We are a small clinic of specialists, owned and operated by clinicians. We sincerely believe that the quality of our work will always be our strongest asset.
Debra is a California licensed clinical social worker. She has been in private practice since 1990, working with children, teens, adults, couples and families to achieve their personal goals and overcome their challenges.
Her clients include those with an array of psychosocial issues: relationship conflicts, medical and health problems, loss or grief, parenting challenges, sexual assault, employment and EAP referrals, adjustment disorders, etc.
Clinical Services & Educational Services
Psycho-Social Evaluations
Individual, Couple, and Family Psychotherapy
Play Therapy
Patient Education
Behavioral Management
Educational Seminars on Sexual Assault – Debunking myths, facts, intervention & prevention
Self-Defense Instruction for children, teen girls and women
Credentials
LCSW, California Board of Behavioral Sciences – LCS 14694
Education
California State University, Long Beach (1985-1987) Master of Social Work Degree
Emphasis: Children, Youth & Families – Health & Mental Health
California State University, Long Beach (1981-1984) Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science
Dual Major: Community & School Health Education
Professional Experience
Psychotherapist
Neurobehavioral Clinic & Counseling Center
Lake Forest, CA
April 1990 – Present
Individual & family therapy with children, adolescents & adults. Clients include those with various psychosocial issues: medical & health problems, bereavement, parenting, sexual assault, relationship conflicts, employment, adjustment disorders, etc.
Psychiatric Clinic for Youth
Long Beach, CA
June 1987 – 1990
Responsibilities: Psychotherapy with children, adolescents & families in a multidisciplinary setting. Parenting coordinator & facilitator for STEP, Confident Parenting, Grandparents as Parents (GAP), & ADD Parenting groups. Co-therapist, latency age boy’s socialization group, utilization review committee member. Compiled a resource manual for practicing clinicians. Coordinated & facilitated staff meetings for two-month rotations.
Co-Director/Project Director/Volunteer Coordinator
Sexual Assault Crisis Agency
Long Beach, CA
October 1982 – 1986
Responsibilities: Recruitment, training, & supervision of volunteers; community & agency liaison, outreach coordinator, public education, provision of in-service training for crisis counselors, advocacy, crisis counseling, accompaniment services, support group facilitator, grant writing, data collection, management of basic operations & self-defense instruction.
Neuromedical Diagnostic Group
Long Beach, CA
April 1981 – 1984
Responsibilities: Patient consultant & neuro-diagnostic technician in a hospital and office setting: interviewing patients with a multitude of neurological disorders, blood pressure monitoring, assisted physicians with neurological testing & conduction of EEG tests.
Internship Positions
Health Education Intern
American Red Cross
Greater Long Beach Chapter
September 1985 – 1986
Social Work Intern
Psychiatric Clinic for Youth
Long Beach, CA
September 1986 – 1987
Social Work Intern
Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling & Learning Center
Los Angeles, California
September 1985 – 1986
Past Consulting Positions
South Coast Midwifery & Women’s Health Services, Irvine, California
Prenatal & Parenting issues.
Sexual Assault Crisis Agency, Long Beach, California, Supervision
Cypress Community College, Cypress, California
Parent Education for Foster Parents
Charter Hospital of Torrance, California: Self-Defense & Women’s Process Group.
California State Dominquez Hills: Karate & Self-Defense Instruction
Organizations
ETHS PSTO: 2nd Vice President (current), Past President, El Toro High School, Parent, Student, Teacher Organization (PSTO), Since 2003. Other positions/responsibilities: Principal Selection Committee, School Site Council Representative, Every 15 Minutes liaison, Charger Pride Chair & Superintendent’s Forum representative. Technology Chair & Volunteer of the Year, 2006 & 2007.
Board of Directors: Neurobehavioral Clinic and Counseling Center, since 2001
Member: National Association of Social Workers, since 1986
Member: Shotokan Karate of America, Black Belt Council, since 1983
Invited Lectures and Workshops
CSULB – Human Sexuality Classes
Federal Women’s Program, LAX Customs
Palm Preschool, Long Beach, CA
Compton Gas Company, Employee Safety Program
Refugee Assistance Program, Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA
Belmont Heights Pre-School
Woodruff Community Hospital
Carmelitos Housing Project, Long Beach, CA
Harbor Hills Community Center, Long Beach, CA
Garr High School, Cerritos, CA
Assisteens, Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Police Department – New Recruits
GTE of Long Beach
Sex Education Class, CSULB
Neighborhood Watch Program, Long Beach, CA
Wilson High School, Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Navy Service – Family Service Clinic
Long Beach Navy Service – Ombudsman Program
Long Beach Parents Without Partners
Long Beach Soroptimist Club
Presentations & Publications
Poster Session: Ortiz, Ph.D., Libby and Brancato, MSW, Debra M., “Children’s Services Within Battered Women’s Shelters: A Model Children’s Program,” APHA 115th Annual Meeting, October 19, 1987, New Orleans, Louisiana. Published on ERIC# ED 318 977.
January 1985, Panel Discussion, Sexual Assault: Periscopes, Cablevision, Long Beach, CA
November 1996, Panel Discussion, Midwifery and Natural Birth: Women’s Council In Action, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Cablevision, Long Beach, CA.
