Our Team
Deborah-Marie Brisebois, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Specializing in Trauma & Mental Health Disorders
Debbie strives to foster a warm, empathic and supportive environment, providing individuals and families with the tools they need to accomplish their desired goals and uncover true potential. She would love the chance to walk with you through this journey toward hope and healing. She believes that each client is unique and needs to be understood from their personal worldview. Working in the mental health field for over 20 years, Debbie has developed a unique, holistic treatment style of meticulous listening, asking questions and providing feedback that often affirms and sometimes challenges her clients; fostering insight, perspective and change that increases self esteem. Debbie tailors each session according to her clients, and where they are emotionally during their visit. She utilizes a variety of evidence based therapeutic strategies combined with experiential and exposure therapies, keeping things fresh and interesting for her clients.
Debbie has facilitated anxiety, depression, and grief groups, developed teen mentoring groups, and designed and teaches parenting teen support groups, along with working at local hospitals and community agencies, providing therapy and support to people in crisis, in-patient, partial hospital, residential, spiritual, religious and academic settings. She also teaches and mentors therapy students for a variety of universities.
She enjoys traveling to warm places, reading, journaling, hiking, kayaking, and laughing with friends and family. She is training Kodi, which is currently challenging her patience, however she loves every moment with him.
Dr. Robert J. Geiss, PhD, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified School Psychologist
Dr. Bob Geiss brings a blend of professional skills to the staff of Valley Psychiatry and Counseling. He has worked within the field as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and as a Certified School Psychologist for over 40 years. He is a versatile member of our staff in that he enjoys working with individuals and their families across all ages. His knowledge and experience have blended theory and practice in assisting individuals demonstrating depressive and anxious symptoms. In addition, he has decades of experience in assisting families in need of guidance and support in addressing ADHD behaviors and other struggles in raising children. He is action oriented and goal focused in his treatment approach blending a sensitivity toward the person's perspective along with challenging the very thoughts that create the lens through which the person views themselves, their "problems" and the world itself. He likes to say that he wants to "meet a person where they are on the road of life", find out where they want to go and explore alternative methods of reaching their destination: knowing full well that the journey is what is most important. Achieving "peace of mind" occurs when one is enjoying the journey not matter what the road has been. He mentions in every initial contact that it is his job to put himself out of a job..."But I need your help."
Christine Larison, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Specializing in Expressive Therapy
Christine believes in providing a client centered, strength based, collaborative, and supportive approach when treating clients. She works to help clients gain insight, build resiliency, and identify coping skills to manage emotions and life stressors. Christine understands that asking for help can be scary, so she strives to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable talking about their challenges.
With over twenty years of experience working with all ages, Christine has developed the philosophy that when one engages in activities that provide a sense of accomplishment; such as art, music, writing, or design, clients learn how to express and better understand emotions; resulting in an alternative way of looking at themselves and the world around them. She has a strong passion for assisting individuals in discovering how to live with greater peace and self-compassion.
In her free time, Christine enjoys creative activities, such as writing and photography.
Kodi
Therapy Dog in Training
Kodi is a three year old golden doodle and is still training to be a therapy dog. He is a happy guy that loves people, however is a bit shy and anxious when he first meets strangers. Kodi excels at demonstrating how to use coping skills to overcome anxiety.
Kodi is also very helpful and sympathetic when clients are having a tough day or just need a friend to confide in.
Kodi has a loud bark that you will easily hear when you first come to Valley Counseling, but once he gets to know you, he will be your best friend, and really enjoys snuggling on the couch. Kodi believes that everyone needs their own space, however when humans are struggling, he also realizes that his fluffy soft fur is very comforting, and he loves to have his ears rubbed.
Kodi feels every day is his "best day ever!" and he really wants to share his joy with Valley Counseling guests.
Kodi loves the snow, playing on his trampoline, chasing the evil squirrels, going down the slide at the park and making new friends. Kodi knows that the humans he meets are the friends he is longing to have. Kodi also enjoys the summer, swimming in his "doggie pool", running through the hose, sniffing flowers and taking long walks. Kodi's favorite summer activity is swimming and boating at Powers Lake with his best-pooch-friend, Ronnie.
Abbie Hernandez, LSW
Licensed Social Worker Specializing in Supportive, Client Centered Therapy
It takes strength to seek out support when facing interpersonal and life challenges. Maybe you need a listening ear, a non-judgmental voice championing change, a safe empathetic space to grieve and heal or to learn skills to get through the valley’s of life. Anxiety, emotional pain and distress does not have to control your life. Know you are not alone.
Abbie has over 18 years experience as a social worker. She has worked in behavioral health and schools settings, where her zest for life and attitude of gratitude makes her therapy groups and family therapy sessions a hoot! Abbie also teaches parent training and social skill building in a fun and relaxed format. Abbie is passionate about individualized therapy, where she can share in helping clients of all ages grow emotionally, gaining perspective, insight and self worth. Abbie uses a strength’s based approach to therapy with children, adolescents and adults, building on what patients have already been successful at or enjoy. Abbie enjoys providing experiential therapy (play and art therapy), cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and faith based therapy.
Abbie is a mom of two fun-loving children and enjoys assisting her husband in his new construction business venture.
Laurie Cox, PhD, MS, LCPC, CADC, LMT
PhD, MS, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Licensed Massage Therapist
With over 25 years of clinical experience and having completed a PhD in Health Psychology and a dual Master’s program in Art Therapy and Psychology, Laurie Cox is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Massage Therapist. She is passionate about creating a therapeutic relationship based on genuineness, empathy and unconditional positive regard while utilizing traditional, alternative, and holistic therapeutic approaches.
Her specialties include Anxiety and Depression, Addiction and Relapse Prevention, Phobias, Trauma/PTSD, and Grief and Loss.
A lifelong learner and educator, Laurie loves nature, photography, exercise, hiking, art, the ocean, movies and books, and spending quality time with family and friends. She is most at peace when hiking in the forest or when taking long beach walks while visiting with her family in coastal North Carolina.
Isabel Acevedo, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Isabel has been providing therapy for about a decade and teaching at the university level for about seven years. She is bilingual and can offer sessions in both English and Spanish. Isabel has a lot of experience working with trauma and adolescents. She enjoys helping her clients reach their full potential and helping them from a non-judgmental point of view. She likes to meet her clients where they are as there is not one single approach to therapy!
Haven Winter
Clinical Social Work Intern
Haven will graduate in December with his master’s in social work from Aurora University. While he enjoys working with many individuals, his passion is the LGBTQIA2+ community providing a positive and affirming environment to explore identities and develop a strong sense of self. He also has a passion for working with individuals with substance use disorders and has experience at an intensive outpatient program (IOP) facilitating substance misuse treatment for adults. Haven has experience with kids, teens, and adults of all ages.
He believes in the importance of a collaborative approach to treatment, understanding that to truly know and help someone, you must understand where they came from, their journey, and the context in which they live. You are the expert on your own life!
Haven’s approach is to help clients identify and utilize their strengths while encouraging continued growth. He focuses on assisting clients in setting attainable goals, improving communication, and learning skills to manage symptoms and decrease behaviors that may be harmful. Haven uses aspects of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) when appropriate for a client’s situation. He believes that identifying negative beliefs, ways of thinking, and patterns of behavior that prevent someone from being where they want to be is an essential part of therapy.
In his free time, Haven enjoys hiking with his husband and their dog, having board game nights with friends, and attempting new recipes.
Ally Logan
Clinical Social Work Intern
Ally is a current social work master’s student at Aurora University. She believes in creating a comfortable space for clients to be heard and embrace vulnerability. To do so, she strives to foster relationships built on trust, collaboration, and genuine connection.
Ally recognizes that every individual and their experiences are unique and works to tailor therapeutic interventions to best fit the needs of each client. She takes a strengths-based approach and utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and play therapy methods. Ally has experience working with tweens and teens, students with school refusal, and adults.
In her free time, Ally enjoys spending time with her dogs, browsing Homegoods, and watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.