Dr. Deborah Gioia-Hasick

I received my MSW in 1981 and my clinical licensing a couple of years later. My early career was engaged in mostly working with teens, young and emerging adults. I worked for 18 years with young adults with schizophrenia and their family supports. This is where I really learned about serious mental illness (SMI) and its consequences on individuals and families. I also learned about the team’s approach to the thoughtful application of any diagnosis for an individual. I ran groups with young adults and monthly multi-family groups. The evidence-based practices I used with this group of individuals was focused on psychosocial education, symptom-management and building back communication and cognitive skills. I received additional training for a year in sexual health and sex therapy interventions at UCLA and did couples counseling through this program. The training I have pursued on my own is centered on mindfulness-based stress reduction treatments which I have taught to students and used in group settings. Since 2001, I have taught Master’s and PhD students after completing my PhD in 2000. The title of my dissertation was Meaning of Work for Young Adults with Schizophrenia. I am very interested in vocational identity development and helping the young adult attain their personal goals in this realm. I have taught clinical and research courses. The clinical courses involve hands-on evidence-based treatments including CBT, DBT, MBSR. I favor always using motivational interviewing as my philosophical approach prior to the client’s agreement to begin to do the work required of the more targeted approach based on their diagnosis. Currently, I have received training on climate-focused trauma and resiliency and am very interested in seeing clients who are experiencing issues related to climate