Deborah Barber, Ph.D.

370 N. Westlake Blvd., Suite 220

Westlake Village, CA 91362

Phone Number: (818) 512-7923

Email: askdrdb@yahoo.com

I have been working with couples for over 15 years and use a Christian perspective that marriage is designed by God to endure for a lifetime. Throughout my time in marriage ministry at various churches, I have encountered couples eager to honor biblical teachings in their relationship but have instead experienced conflict and separation.

I bring knowledge of therapeutic best practices for marital problems plus a commitment to honor the vows made by each partner. I use Sue Johnson's Emotion Focused Therapy as well as John Gottman's extensive research on couples to inform my approach. This means that I focus on how couples have learned to bond early on and what emotional needs went unmet that continue to negatively impact their relational intimacy. I help couples to understand years of negative patterns so that emotional healing and reconciliation may take place.

Making small, sustainable changes over time is often more effective than radical interventions. I use researched tools invented by John Gottman, one of America's most prolific marital researchers,to improve communication and handle conflict.

Many couples come to me when they are on the brink of divorce. I hold the hope for them that their relationship can be transformed and it often is, through a process of identifying what no longer works and inviting new understanding of love in action. For more information visit my website DrDeborahBarber.com.

Gender: Female

Graduate Degree: Ph.D.

University: California School of Professional Psychology

License: Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Certifications/Awards/Memberships/Publications:

American Psychological Association

Pepperdine University, Adjunct Faculty

American Red Cross, disaster mental health volunteer

Conejo Valley Community Church, former coordinator of Heart to Heart marriage ministry

Lighthouse Church, marriage growth group facilitator