Deborah Ross is a Certified Journal Therapist and provides instruction both privately, in workshops, online, and in retreat format for those who wish to keep a journal in service of healing, personal growth and transformation. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor but retired from private practice psychotherapy in December 2015 in order to focus on teaching Journaling/Expressive Writing.
Deborah is the co-author with Kathleen Adams of the book, "Your Brain on Ink, Neuroplasticity and The Journal Ladder," which features the integration of journaling and the latest in neuroscience research, a particular area of interest for Deborah. She is a faculty member of both the Therapeutic Writing Institute and Journalversity both are wings of the Center for Journal Therapy. Deborah also teaches for INOVA's Life with Cancer program as well as for or Brain Injury Services.
Deborah's interest in mindfulness based meditation practices has led to the development of the journaling curriculum for "Bringing Mindfulness to Life, " a year long program conducted through the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. She teaches the flagship workshop, "Journal to the Self," a program for personal growth that helps participants create a toolbox of 18 writing techniques that can be customized according to one's personal goals. Deborah is also certified to teach the, "Writing Through Transitions," curriculum created by transitions expert, Leia Francisco as well as the Legacy Writing protocol developed by Rachael Freed. Deborah has developed workshops for artists who wish to you use a journal to explore their creativity and enjoys creating custom workshops to meet a variety of needs in the community.
For those in the mental health field who wish to use journaling for self-supervision, practice development, and professional growth Deborah offers private instruction or a workshop geared for the private practice group. You can read more about the integration of expressive writing and neuroscience in the book, "Expressive Writing: Counseling and Healthcare" in her chapter, "Your Brain on Ink." The book is available through independent booksellers, the publisher Rowman and Littlefield or Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Deborah continues to be a featured presenter in the Expressive Writing track at the Expressive Arts Summit in NYC and develops workshops for small groups and organizations who would like a customized approach to their writing needs.
Education:
M.A. in Psychology, George Mason University, 1979.
License and Certifications:
Licensed Professional Counselor, VA
Certified Imago Relationship Therapist
Certified Instructor, Journal to the Self
Certified Journal Therapist
Additional Training:
Internal Family Systems, Levels 1 and 2
Mindsight Institute, Completed 3 year program in Interpersonal Neurobiology
Center for Journal Therapy
Professional Activities:
Past President, Mid-Atlantic Assocation for Imago Relationship Therapists