Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Compassionate, culturally responsive, evidence-based therapy
for adults in San Mateo, CA
Hi and welcome to my practice! I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience providing individual therapy for adults. My approach to therapy is compassionate, grounded in science, and tailored to meet the individual needs of my clients. I work with each person to identify your specific goals for therapy and to create an individualized treatment plan that serves as a roadmap to guide our work and help us meet your goals.
I have specialized training and extensive experience in working with adults who have experienced various forms of trauma and/or have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I am trained in providing evidence-based treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for adults with trauma-related disorders.
​
​
Areas of Focus
-
Anxiety
-
Navigating life transitions and adjustments
-
Coping with relationship challenges
-
Stress and stress management
-
Depression
-
Acculturation and immigration challenges
-
Balancing more than one cultural identity
-
Family stressors
-
Panic disorder
-
Health anxiety
-
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Treatments Offered
-
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
-
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
-
Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy
-
Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
-
Emotion Efficacy Therapy (EET)
-
Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
-
Mindfulness-based approaches
As a young immigrant growing up in the U.S., I experienced the push and pull of straddling different cultures, values, and expectations. These personal experiences have influenced my passion for working with clients from diverse backgrounds and under-represented populations. This includes immigrants, adult children of immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, first-generation college students, and more.
​
Languages spoken: English and Farsi
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRECC) - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) emphasis
VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Pre-doctoral Internship in Behavioral Medicine
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Health Psychology
Syracuse University
M.S. in Clinical Psychology
Syracuse University
B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Medical Anthropology
University of Southern California, Magna cum laude
​
I am licensed in the state of California: PSY 24414
​
Debbie Nazarian, PhD (she/her)
Prior to opening my own private practice, I worked as a Staff Psychologist at Stanford University Vaden Health Center, where I provided individual therapy to undergraduate and graduate students. I also served as a primary supervisor for predoctoral and post-doctoral psychology trainees.
​
Over the course of my education and training, I have conducted clinical research that has focused on the effects of expressive writing as an intervention for trauma, exploring the relationship between trauma/PTSD and health, and improving access to mental health care for women Veterans. My advanced clinical research training has provided me with important skills that I bring to my clinical work as a therapist, including a strong foundation in providing evidence-based treatments and a commitment to staying up to date on the latest research and developments in order to provide quality clinical care for my clients. Here are some of my peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Courage does not always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
"I will try again tomorrow"
Mary Anne Radmacher
Fees
Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes. Some trauma-focused sessions may be longer in duration (e.g., 90 minutes) and are billed accordingly. Fees are competitive with other psychologists in this area and are discussed during our initial phone consultation. Payment is made at the time of service and monthly super bills will be provided.
Insurance
I am considered an "out-of-network" provider for insurance purposes. If you intend to use your insurance, I recommend that you contact your plan prior to our first session to ask about your psychotherapy benefits for out-of-network providers. Many health insurance policies provide some coverage for mental health treatment and may reimburse you directly for some portion of the fees you have paid to me. I will provide you with a monthly super bill that you can then submit to your insurance.
​
Good Faith Estimate
If we decide to work together, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. I will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate as part of your intake paperwork. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CMS at 1-800-985-3059.
​
I provide a free 20-minute phone consultation to all prospective clients. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about my practice and see if we are a good fit. Finding a therapist that is a good match for YOU is a key ingredient to successful therapy.
​
120 N. El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94401
Tel: (650) 485-3726
Email: drdebbienazarian@gmail.com
Email is not a secure or confidential means of communicating, so the privacy of communication cannot be guaranteed. I recommend that email only be used for scheduling purposes.