Golen Debra J

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Hi! My name is Debra J. Golen, M.A. LMHC, LADC I, LSW. Welcome to my website. Please allow me to tell you a little about myself.
I have been in the mental health field for over 20 years, since earning my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and a Licensed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor, Level I (the highest level). With both of these licenses I am able to practice independently. I have extensive experience in Crisis Intervention and Trauma Response, and I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a very effective technique used with trauma survivors. I work with geriatrics, adults and children, and provide counseling to individuals, couples and families.
We all go through many changes during our lifetime; some changes are anticipated and expected, such as the birth of a child, growing older and the changing of the seasons. Others, may be expected, but not anticipated, such as the death of a seriously ill parent or friend, children leaving home and becoming independent adults, and the changes that occur in our bodies as we age.
Still others may not be expected or anticipated. These are usually losses; the loss of a spouse, child, pet, or even a job. All of these changes can be stressful. It may surprise many to know that going on a vacation is actually considered a stressor. No matter how emotionally and physically strong an individual is, sometimes the changes are too difficult to bear alone and many find they need help and support during the grief period that follows a loss. Allowing yourself to reach out and seek professional guidance at these times in your life is not a sign of weakness, it actually shows a great deal of courage to be able to admit to yourself that you are human, and sometimes, everyone needs to talk to someone who can help with their grief.
Throughout my 20 years in this field, I have had the wonderful fortune of following my personal dreams to help people feel better about themselves on a physical and emotional level. I have had the opportunity to work with clients with a variety of types of mental illnesses, personality disorders, sexual offenders and those with substance abuse/dependency issues. My fields of concentration are womens issues, severely medically compromised clients with pain management issues, dysfunctional families, and those who cant find services elsewhere due to the severity of their behaviors and symptoms, especially adolescents who seem out of control.
In general, I believe in a Holistic approach to psychotherapy. Each individual is affected by their environment, making this an important component of the therapy process. While the counselor can be a catalyst for promoting change, its the clients, whether an individual or family unit, that really make this change occur. For example, a client requesting help on dealing with his or her feelings of sadness and depression, may also consume a great deal of alcohol on a daily basis. They will be responsible for decreasing their substance abuse if their therapy is going to be effective.
I am available to meet with clients Monday thru Friday from 9am until 7pm, and Saturday mornings, if needed. My office is located in downtown New Bedford MA, just 3 blocks from the downtown bus terminal, and there is a bus stop less than 75 meters from the building entrance. The building itself is handicap accessible, with accessible rest rooms as well. Home visits are also available within the area for those who are unable or unwilling to come to the office. Currently I have home-based clients in the New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport and Fall River areas. Please see my contact page for information on how to reach me. I look forward to speaking with you.
I pride myself on being available to my clients, for emergent issues, most of the time as I believe most crisis situations can be avoided with prompt and effective intervention.