Who Is Deborah?
Dr. Deborah Adamy has been committed to her meaningful 38 year career in advocacy, healing and activism. She has advocated for the rights of the most vulnerable, counseled people from all walks of life, developed curriculum, trained social workers and educators, coordinated research projects, ran groups and facilitated workshops. She cares deeply for humanity and believes we are capable of reducing our daily suffering, finding deeper meaning and purpose in our lives, and living more fully into our potential.
PHILOSOPHY
Deborah is a holistic psycho-spiritual therapist, who encourages her clients to live from love rather than fear, be guided by their intuitive inner wisdom, and integrate trust, compassion, and empowerment into their daily lives. When she began her private therapeutic practice over 30 years ago, Deborah was compelled to incorporate a holistic approach, understanding that the integration of body-mind-spirit enriches our health and well-being. She embodies this belief by caring wisely for her body, mind, and spirit. Deborah values and brings consciousness to nutrition, physical exercise and vitality, a thirst for knowledge and wisdom, and her ever-growing spiritual practices.
EDUCATION
Deborah completed her doctorate in clinical psychology from The California Institute of Human Sciences in Encinitas, CA; received her masters degree from Hunter College School of Social Work in NYC; graduated Magna Cum Lade with a BA in Psychology and Teaching Certification in elementary and special education from College of New Rochelle, NY; and earned her LMT at The Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in NYC, having studied eastern and western massage modalities. She is also an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
From high school through the early years following college, Deborah taught modern and jazz dance to children, teens and adults. People would question how she could have two seemingly distinct jobs: dance teacher and social worker. For Deborah there was not such a disconnect, whether teaching dance or teaching communication skills, both helped people believe in themselves and build confidence. Deborah began her social work career in the early 80s empowering minority women to enter the work force with confidence, assertiveness and effective job skills. She worked in school-based drug prevention programs, counseling teenagers and families and later running parenting workshops throughout Brooklyn and Queens, NY. She was a consultant for numerous organizations providing presentations, trainings, staff development workshops, retreats, clinical case conferences, curriculum development, professional development and strategic planning for counselors, educators, social workers, and policy makers. In addition, Deborah worked at a community-based health center, integrating medical and educational services for the most vulnerable. She was hired by Yale University’s Consultation Center to direct innovative, comprehensive programs in high-risk middles schools (healthy decision-making curriculum, peer leadership, peer mediation, parent support groups and community organizing collaboration). Deborah coordinated a federally funded research project through Hunter College School of Social Work (HCSSW), focused on effective child welfare practices. Following that research project, she became the Director of Training at HCSSW’s National Resource Center for Permanency Planning, helping to improve policy and practices in child welfare throughout the country. Deborah has developed a thriving private practice in Psychotherapy working with children, teenagers, and adults, individuals, couples and families for over 30 years.
Over a decade ago, Deborah did an internship with Hospice, where she discovered her natural comfort with the dying process. That comfort and humility led to being invited into the dying process of friends and relatives. Her first experience of being present as a dear friend passed allowed her to feel like a mid-wife to death. She experienced the sacredness of ushering someone to let go of what they previously anguished over, forgiving others as well as themselves, and releasing fear as the dying person softened into acceptance and peace. She is grateful for the wisdom, compassion and guidance she found in "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" for not only sitting at the bedside of the dying, but being inspired to write and deliver meaningful eulogies.
As an ordained inter-faith minister, Reverend Dr. Mama A feels honored and privileged to officiate weddings. She marvels at the invitation into the vulnerability, intimacy and dreams of couples, while helping them create sacred ceremonies to profess their love. Rev. Dr. Mama A thoughtfully delivers unique, personally relevant, heartfelt sermons, while delighting in these celebrations of love.
All photos on this website by Leila Brewster except where noted.