About Deborah

Warm And Empathetic Therapy

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For as long as I can remember, I have been attuned to the emotions of others and been able to comfort people. One of my clearest and most long-standing memories from grade school is of consoling my best friend. She had become distraught after her mom forgot to tell her, “See you when you get home,” at morning drop-off. I listened to her closely, hoping to understand what pained her. What I recall most vividly is wanting to offer her something helpful that would make her feel better. 

Throughout my life, I have always been curious about how people see, think, and experience the world. It might have something to do with the fact that my family moved around a lot when I was growing up, exposing me to many different types of people and ways of life. It made me wonder about what makes our shared experiences so similar in some respects and so different in others. 

My Background

Once I decided to pursue psychology in college, I learned how thoughts, feelings, and experiences that we may be only somewhat aware of—or not aware of at all—have a great impact on our lives and well-being. During my undergraduate studies, it became clear to me that I enjoyed helping people learn more about themselves and my career path began to crystallize. 

I pursued additional post-graduate training as a psychoanalyst because I wanted to be the person to aid in the exploration of what goes on within a patient’s internal world. Helping others gain an understanding of their thought processes and beliefs through self-examination, allows them to see other possibilities that will likely bring more satisfaction and peace of mind to their lives.

My purpose as a therapist is to help free people up from the many ways in which they can feel stuck, ashamed, or pained by life. Working with patients to recognize how their internal world influences how they interact with others and experience daily life is immensely rewarding to me.

Over the years, I have taught and held supervisory roles at many psychology training sites, including the Access Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, California College of the Arts, and Holy Names University. I am also on the faculty at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis where I serve on several committees. 

Teaching and supervising have allowed me to keep more current in my practice and apply what I learn in the clinical setting. They have also given me the forum to meet and learn with colleagues and share ideas and best practices. 

My Approach

I believe each of us learns from our experiences and that we need one another’s help to grow. I aim to work collaboratively with my patients so that they feel safe and supported in therapy. Our therapeutic relationship will allow room for two people to have their own thoughts and feelings and to safely navigate the inevitable conflicts that may arise.

Treatment And Modalities

My specialty is helping adults overcome their issues with anxiety, depression, bereavement, and relationship struggles. I have found that when patients commit to weekly psychotherapy sessions with me, it enables us to cultivate our therapeutic relationship and embark upon making meaningful breakthroughs. 

Through self-exploration, patients can tap into thoughts, feelings, and experiences that were previously hidden or unrecognized. By drawing from an eclectic array of modalities, I offer my clients a customized treatment plan tailored to fit their specific needs.

My Practice

Because therapy is often a new experience for my clients, I aim to make our weekly sessions warm, welcoming, and accepting. I want our time together to be a safe and comfortable space where we can slow the conversation down and take our time. It’s important to me to get to know my clients and truly understand what’s going on with them. Rather than setting an agenda for what we talk about, I will take the client’s lead and follow where the conversation goes. 

My disposition has been described as considerate and gracious—open-minded yet level-headed. I want the relationship I develop with my patients to be genuine and, most importantly, beneficial. The goal I have for each patient is to help guide them towards increased self-awareness that will make their lives easier and more satisfying.

Dr. Deborah Weisinger is a licensed psychologist and has been practicing as an adult psychotherapist for over 25 years. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, Deborah received a PsyD from the Wright Institute in Clinical Psychology. She became a Licensed Psychologist in 2002. Additionally, she trained as a Psychoanalyst at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis and graduated in 2015. She works with therapists in training and with experienced therapists as a supervisor and a teacher.