Meet Debra Wallace MS, LMFT

Good Day.  I’m Debra Wallace, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, Illinois USA) and a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). 

Since 2001, I have been providing education, couple, individual, and family therapy, and now online at Therapy Portal.

My tailored approach cultivates healthy, safe relationships, resiliency, and holistic care while empowering clients to reach their goals. I love working with parents, couples, tween/teens, children, and families. I prioritize building positive rapport and a safe environment to process a range of sensitive topics and difficult emotions. My specialties include stress and conflict management, trauma, attachment, grief, anxiety, depression, committed partnerships, and parent/child relationships. I have innovatively synthesized evidence-based research into experiential interventions that maximize human potential and heal trans-generational trauma.

My career has provided extensive experience working with children and families in clinical, educational, and recreational settings with unique needs from diverse backgrounds. I like to collaborate with many case-related systems such as family members, caseworkers, residential treatment providers, individual therapists, doctors, judges, schools, and foster-care providers.  I have contributed my expertise to many different settings and formats such as books, websites, hospitals, schools, conferences, legal hearings, committees, agencies, and local media. I except the insurance of Illinois residents who have Optum Behavioral Health, Tricare, Humana Military, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AETNA, and CIGNA.

Professional Experience

2023-Present: Telemental Health Provider, Therapy Notes, IL USA

2017-Present: Telemental Health Provider, WeCounsel merged to Officite, IL USA

2015-2017: Telemental Health Provider, Breakthrough.com, IL USA

2015-2017: Group Facilitator, Mothers Helpers, Waiheke Island & Nationwide (Online), NZ

2012-Present: Private Practitioner, Positive Reframe Island Lake, IL. & Waiheke Island NZ

2013-2015: Marriage and Family Therapist & Children’s Group Facilitator, Therapy Tree, Lake Villa, IL USA

2005-2008: On-site and In-home Intensive Family Therapist, Larimer County Department of Human Services, CO USA

2003-2008: Private Practitioner, Blue Sage, Fort Collins, CO USA

2002-2003: Intern-Psychotherapist & Diabetes Group Facilitator, Family Medical Center, Fort Collins, CO USA

2002-2005: Psychotherapist & Youth Group Facilitator, Lamda Community Center, Fort Collins, CO USA

2001-2003: Psychotherapist, Center for Couples and Family Therapy, Fort Collins, CO USA

Education

2003: Colorado State University, Master of Science (Human Development and Family Studies with Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy)

2000: Clemson University, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology with minor in Elementary Education), Summa Cum Laude

1997: College of DuPage, Associate in Arts

Certificates & Training

2023

  • Trauma & Altered States of Consciousness with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD 2.25 CE
  • Incorporating Play Therapy into Evidence-Based Treatment with Jennifer Lefebre, PsyD, RPT-S 2.0CE
  • Use of Play and Activity to Support Trauma-informed Treatment with Steven Gross, MSW 1.5 CE
  • Making Connections: The Neuropsychology of Sandplay Therapy in the Treatment of Trauma with Lorraine Freedle, LCSW, PhD, ABPdN, ABSNP, CST-T 3.5 CE
  • Trauma Processing with Children with Michele Henderson, LICSW 1.5 CE
  • No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D. & Nancy Burgoyne, Ph.D 1.0 CE
  • The Use of Internal Family Systems Model in Trauma Treatment with Frank Anderson, MD 2.0 CE
  • Internal Family Systems with Richard C. Schwartz, PhD 2.5 CE

2022

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: A Model for Accelerated Change with Deborah Korn, PsyD 2.5 CE
  • Trauma, PTSD and the Mind-Body Relationship with Matthew Sanford 3.0 CE
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice with Pat Ogden, PhD 2.0 CE
  • SMART: Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment with Elizabeth Warner, EdM, PsyD & Alexandra Cook, PhD 1.5 CE
  • We Do Not Work Alone: Implementing and Sustaining Trauma­-informed Systems with Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW 1.5 CE
  • Trauma Through the Lens of Polyvagal Theory with Stephen Porges, PhD & Bessel van der Kolk, MD 1.5 CE
  • Adult Treatment Through the Lens of Components-Based Psychotherapy (CBP) with Elizabeth Hopper, Ph.D. 3.5 CE
  • ARC & Supporting Regulation in Childhood with Margaret Blaustein, PhD 2.5 CE
  • Introduction to ARC: The Attachment, Regulation, and Competency Model with Margaret Blaustein, PhD 3.0 CE
  • The Scope of Trauma Treatment: From Acute Interventions to Restoration of Self-Experience with Bessel van der Kolk, MD 2.0 CE
  • The Roles Intersectionality & Cultural Humility Play When Working with Diverse Client Populations with Gary Bailey, MSW, ACSW 2.0 CE
  • Adult Attachment Relationships with Jana Pressley, Psy.D. 3.0 CE
  • Childhood Trauma: Impact and Longterm Consequences with Bessel van der Kolk, MD 2.5 CE
  • Trauma Assessment of Children and Adults with Alexandra Cook, Ph.D. 2.5 CE
  • The Nature of Trauma: Developmental Neurobiology, Neuroimaging Research and Effective Intervention with Bessel van der Kolk, MD 2.5 CE
  • The Complexity of Adaptation to Trauma with Jana Pressley, Psy.D. 2.5 CE
  • Understanding Trauma: Foundations with Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. 2.0 CE
  • Safe & Sound Protocol Training Certificate with Steven Porges, Ph.D. – Unyte-iLs 5.0 CE
  • Transcending Trauma with Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) with Richard Schwartz Ph.D. 1.5 CE

2021

  • The Relational Brain: The Neurobiology of Relational Life Therapy & How it Works to Rewire Your Brain, by Terry Real & Juliane Taylor Shore 6.0 CE
  • How Neurofeedback & Neurotherapies Can Heal Trauma & Addictions by Deirdre Stewart, LPC, SEP, BCN 1.0 CE
  • Helping Make the Unbearable Tolerable: Trauma & the Treatment of Addictions by Bessel van der Kolk, MD 1.0 CE
  • Telehealth: How to Legally Practice Over State Lines by Marlene Maheu Ph.D., Telebehavioral Health Institute 1.0 CE

2020

  • Immobility, Helplessness and Loss of Self-regulation in the time of COVID-19 by Peter Levine, Ph.D., and Bessel van der Kolk, MD 1.5 CE
  • Certificate Course in Emotionally Focused Therapy Attachment-based interventions for couples in crisis by Sue Johnson Ph.D. 12 CE
  • Introduction to Telebehavioral Health/Telemental Health Theory & Practice by Marlene Maheu Ph.D., Telebehavioral Health Institute 6 CE

2019

  • Illinois Mandated Reporter Training by DCFS 2 CE
  • How to Legally Practice Over State Lines with Telebehavioral and Telemental Health by Marlene Maheu Ph.D. 1 CE

2018

  • Telemedicine: Is This the Next Real Innovation in Health Care Delivery? by Reed V. Tuckson M.D. 1 CE
  • Neuroscience of Addiction: A New Way to Think About Recovery with Daniel Hochman, M.D. 1 CE
  • Mindfulness, Healing, and Transformation: The Pain and the Promise of Befriending the Full Catastrophe with Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. 1 CE

2017

  • Shame Shields: The Armor We Use to Protect Ourselves and Why It Doesn’t Serve Us with Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW 1 CE
  • 2017 The Body Keeps the Score with Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. 1 CE

2016

  • Healing After an Affair with Julie Gottman, Ph.D. and John M Gottman, Ph.D. 1 CE
  • Infidelity with Julie Gottman, Ph.D. and John M Gottman, Ph.D. 1.25 CE
  • Storytelling, Life’s Deeper Meaning and Dream-Within-Conflict Strategies to use with Couples with Julie Gottman, Ph.D. and John M Gottman, Ph.D. 1 CE
  • Benefits of Integration, Insight on Flooding and Dealing with Resistance with Couples in Therapy with Julie Gottman, Ph.D. and John M Gottman, Ph.D. 1 CE
  • Strengthening Relationships through Resurfacing Trauma and PTSD with Julie Gottman, Ph.D., and John M. Gottman, Ph.D. 1 CE
  • Making Relationships Work with Julie Gottman, Ph.D. and John M. Gottman, Ph.D. 1.5 CE
  • Working Together for Vulnerable Kids with Child. Youth and Family(CYF) and Child Matters New Zealand 1 day training

2015

  • Clinical Implications and Applications of The Adult Attachment Interview with Dan Siegel MD 1.5CE 
  • EMDR three Day Intensive Training with Linda Curran, BSPC, LPC, CAC-D, CCDP 29 CE

2014

  • Play Therapy Techniques: Working with Challenging Behaviors with Sandra Clavelli Psy. D. 2 CE

2013

  • Minding the Teenage Brain: Adolescence as a Period of Opportunity and Vulnerability for Mental  Health with Dan Siegel, MD 2CE
  • Play Therapy 101 with Mary Alice Wentling, MSEd, NCC, LCPC, Illinois, USA, 3 CE

2012

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #166000901, Illinois, USA

2008

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #846, Colorado, USA
  • Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Case-based Live Meeting Training with Bruce Perry MD, Ph.D., 13.5 CE
  • Establishing Safety and Wellbeing for Children exposed to Domestic Violence with Shellie Taggert and Fernando Mederos EdD, 6 CE

2007

  • Beyond Consequences Live with Heather Forbes LCSW and Eric Guy LSW, 10 CE
  • Emotional Regulatory & Neuro sequential Healing Clinical Intensive with Juli Alvarado, MA, LPC, NCC, 16 CE

2006

  • Love and Logic Parent Training with Jim Fay, 2 CE

2005 – 2006

  • Foothills Childbirth Education Instructor/Doula Training

2002

  • The Challenges of Couples Counselling with William Doherty Ph.D., 6 CE

2001 – 2003

  • Graduate and Teacher Assistant for the Department of Human Studies, Colorado State University

Consultation

Your healing matters—and it starts with one intentional step.

Connect with Debra Wallace, MS, LMFT for a personalized consultation through the Positive Reframe Therapy Portal.

Call (312) 463-9163 or reach out Online to begin creating space for growth and peace.