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Merriman, Deborah

Core Faculty
Associate professor
C.A.G.S.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
School Affiliation

School of Psychology & Counseling

Academic Focus

Addictions, marriage & family therapy

Community Involvement

Teaching Bible studies and providing counseling services to local Christian churches

Courses Taught
  • Family Treatment of Substance Abuse
  • Foundations of Couples Counseling
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychopathology
  • Marriage & Family Therapy: Basic Counseling Skills
Education

Smith School of Social Work, Northampton, MA – post graduate certificate in treatment of children and adolescents

Saybrook Graduate School and Research Institute, San Francisco, CA – doctoral courses

University of Massachusetts, Amherst – Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS), Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health

Insight

We are all faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. (author unknown)

Professional Experience
  • Over 20 years clinical practice (private practice)
  • Guest Speaker for Community Mental Health agencies (Addictions, Trauma)
  • Professional Development training under Daniel Siegel and Bessel Van de Kolk
  • Trained in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Awards & Recognitions
  • UMASS – Doris Dickerson Life Long Learner Award
  • Bay Path University Valedictorian
Selected Presentations
  • Center for Human Development - Fall 2016 - Addiction, Trauma and the Developing Brain
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
  • American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT)
  • American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
  • NAADAC