Teaching Philosophy

I view academic or any learning at its best as being lightly tethered to objectives or intentions, deeply rooted in relationship and experience, and lastly, but just as importantly, being pleasurable, fun, and always accompanied by a strong flavor of playfulness.

I see my role as being guided by what you want and need, accompanied by my bringing to the table my expertise in the course topic that you are exploring and diving into. I view much of what I do as mentor as being devoted to meeting you, responding to where you are in the process, and serving you in moving towards the direction of your growing tension.

I enjoy the process of learning myself and am devoted to the position that privileges learning that is embedded in the head, the mind, and just as richly in the heart. I see connections in pretty much everything, and so I encourage linking what you have learned in the past (personally, academically, and professionally, from many disciplines) with what your focus is during this semester.

Education

PhD in Psychology, Alliant International University

MA in Developmental Psychology; Chapman University

MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, Chapman University

BA in Sociology with minors in Psychology and Dance, Chapman University

Licensure And Credentials

• Approved LMFT-Supervisor, South Carolina, 2015
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, #4195, South Carolina, 2004
• Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor, International Association For Play Therapy 1991
• Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, REAT, IEATA, 2017
• Registered Expressive Arts Consultant & Educator, REACE, IEATA, 2017
• Certified Marriage & Family Therapist, Supervisor, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 2001 to 2006
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, California, 1978 to 2006
• Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, 2022
• California Community College Counselor Credential California Community College Instructor Credential, Sociology, Psychology, & Nursery School Education

Certificates and Institute Training

• Advanced Intensive Focusing Training and Supervision, The Family and Play Therapy Center, Philadelphia, PA, 3/2020 & ongoing Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Sandtray Practices, The Family and Play Therapy Center, Philadelphia, PA, 5/2019
• Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology, III, The Mindsight Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 10/25/2012
• Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology, II, The Mindsight Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 10/25/2011
• Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology, I, The Mindsight Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 12/2010
• Certificate in Dreamwork, Institute for Dream Studies (IDS), Charleston, SC, 1/2008
• Finding Words Training, Children’s Law Office of South Carolina, 8/2003
• Filial Family Therapy Training, The NIRE Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 6/2003
• EMDR Training, Levels I and II, EMDR Institute. 2002 & 2003
• Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, University of California at San Diego, 6/2000
• Certificate in Cinema, Palomar College, 6/1999
• Certificate in Narrative Psychotherapy, Counseling Center of Solana Beach, 2/1997
• Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, Sky Mountain Institute, 8/1999
• AAMFT Approved Supervision of Supervision (Academic Coursework), University of San Diego, 8/1995
• Certificate in Art Therapy, Art Therapy Center of North San Diego County, 6/1995
• Family Systems Therapy (Postgraduate Training Program), Family Therapy Training Associates, AAMFT Approved, 6/1994.
• Certificate in Ericksonian Hypnosis, National University, 10/1992

Areas of Expertise

• Interpersonal Neurobiology
• Dreams
• Contextual Family Therapy
• Trauma, Repair, and Restoration
• Embodiment Practices
• Expressive Therapies
• Consciousness & Complexity

Pronouns: She, Her, They

Meaningful Action in the World

I view everything that I do as an engagement in Meaningful Action in the World, most importantly my relational life in caring for my children and grandchildren . . . growing myself in this mix, notably. Learning to love fully, and to open my heart to receiving love as well!

Publications

• Armstrong, D. (2020). Awake in the Night.
• Armstrong, D. (2019). A Reflective Commentary on: Marks-Tarlow, T. A fractal epistemology for
• transpersonal psychology. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies.
• Armstrong, D. (2018). Dreams and Psychotherapy. In Brain Awareness Online Journal. Spring, 2018.
• Armstrong, D. (2018). Complexity, Fractals, & Dreaming. In Dreamtime. Fall, 2018.
• Armstrong, D. (2017). In Childhood Anxieties, Fear, & Phobias. Edited by Drewes & Schaefer. Integrating Expressive Arts & Play Techniques in the Treatment of Childhood Nightmares. Guilford Publications. New York, N.Y.
• Hickey, D. (2010). Dream-enacting With a Family, In Creative Family Therapy Techniques: Play, Art, and Expressive Activities to Engage Children in Family Sessions. Edited by Liana Lowenstein.
• Hickey, D. (2008). Assessing Parent Empathy Through Sandtray. In, Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Techniques. Edited by Liana Lowenstein.
• DeRoma, V., Hickey, D. A., & Stanck, K.M. (2008). Methods of Supervision: Marriage & Family Therapist Training Expectations. North American Journal of Psychology. Vol. 9, No. 3
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. 2007. Filial Family Therapy as a Primary Intervention Treatment Approach with Children in Foster Care. International Journal of Play Therapy.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong & Howard, Tracy. (Spring, 2006). Book reviews of: Filial Family Therapy Workbook & FFT Trainer Manual, In IAPT Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong (Fall, 2004). ‘Normal’ Human Development in Sexuality. In Darkness to Light, Online Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (2002). The Talking Stick Totem: A Family Therapy Technique for Teaching, Listening, Witnessing and Speaking your Truth. In, Kaduson, Heidi & Schaefer, Charles (Eds.). 101 More Play Therapy Techniques. pp. 177-181. Northvale, New Jersey. Jason Aronson., Inc.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (Spring, 2001) Interviews with Well-Known Play Therapists, A Series, Joyce Mills. In, California Association for Play Therapy, Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (2001). The Nightmare Box: Play Therapy with Children Experiencing Chronic Nightmares. In, Kaduson, Heidi & Schaefer, Charles (Eds.). 101 More Favorite Play Therapy Techniques. pp. 141- 146. Northvale, New Jersey. Jason Aronson, Inc.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (2001). The Power Animal Technique: Internalizing a Positive Symbol for Strength. In, Kaduson, Heidi & Schaefer, Charles (Ed.). 101 More Favorite Play Therapy Techniques, pp. 451-455. Northvale, New Jersey. Jason Aronson, Inc.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (Fall, 2000) Book Review: Child Development, A Practitioner’s Model. In the California Association for Play Therapy, Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (Summer, 2000) Book Review: The Boy who Dreamed of an Acorn. In California Association for Play Therapy. Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (Spring, 2000) The Relationship between Supervisory Training and Quality of Supervision Experiences Among MFT Trainees and Interns. In, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Newsletter.
• Hickey, Deborah Armstrong. (1988). Validation of Lucid Dreaming in School Age Children. In, The Lucidity Letter. Volume 7, No. 2.

Presentations

• Armstrong, Deborah. May, 2022. Playing & the Brain: Nourishment For Growing Well at ay Age! The University of Utara: Keynote/Invited Talk.
• Armstrong, Deborah. September, 2020, ongoing. Focusing Infused Therapy Training Program (FIT). The Mindgarden Centre, Greenville, SC.
• Armstrong, Deborah. March, 2020. Innerplay: Playing in Therapy with Adults. South Carolina Association for Play Therapy. Greenville, SC.
• Armstrong, Deborah, June & July, 2019, Sandtray and Expressive Arts Certificate Program (SEAT Program), a 40 Hour Certificate Program, The Empowerment Center, Washington, D.C.
• Armstrong, Deborah. March, 2019. Dreamplay & Innerplay: Two Central Threads in Knowing & Growing Ourselves. Keynote Presenter: Invited: International Association for Dance Therapy. Beijing, China.
• Armstrong, Deborah, January – August, 2018, Dreamwork and Expressive Arts Practices in Therapy, DEAPTH Certificate Program, The Mindgarden Centre, Greenville, SC
• Armstrong, Deborah. April, 2018. CPR: Creating Preferred Realities through Focusing, Dreams, & Expressive Arts. Ananda Cottages. Bali. Indonesia.
• Armstrong, Deborah, (with Elizabeth Walker). March, 2018, Peer-Reviewed Workshop. Mending Beautifully: Playing with Adults in Therapy. South Carolina Association for Play Therapy. Greer, SC.
• Armstrong, Deborah (with Elizabeth Walker), October, 2017, Peer-Reviewed Workshop. Mending Beautifully: Growing Coherent Narratives through Expressive Arts Therapies. The Expressive Summit. New York City.
• Armstrong, Deborah, July & November, 2017, Dreamwork and Expressive Arts Practices in Therapy, DEAPTH Certificate Program, Creative Arts Institute, Beijing, China.
• Armstrong, Deborah, July, 2017, Invited Workshop, Integrating Expressive Arts & Playful Practices into Solution Focused & Narrative Therapy with Families, Taiwanese Association of Couple and Family Therapy, Annual Conference, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Armstrong, Deborah, July, 2017, Invited Presentation, Interpersonal Neurobiology & Family Therapy, Taiwanese Association of Couple and Family Therapy, Annual Conference, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Armstrong, Deborah, June, 2017, Dreaming as a Fundamental Experience in Being, Peer-reviewed Presentation, International Association for the Study of Dreams, Annual Conference, Anaheim, California.
• Armstrong, Deborah, June, 2017, Somatic Practices in Dreamwork: Sculpting, Authentic Movement, and Constellating, Peer-Reviewed Workshop, International Association for the Study of Dreams, Annual Conference, Anaheim, California.
• Armstrong, Deborah, April 2017, Dreaming as a Fundamental Experience in Being, Invited Keynote Presentation, International Association for the Study of Dreams, Regional Conference, Greenville, SC.