FULL BIO

Deborah Deeter holds an MSc in Marital and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University, CA, she also holds a PhD in Psychology from VRIJE, Brussels, Belgium. She is a registered member with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC) and the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP.) She is also a Registered Marriage & Family Therapist (RMFT) with the Canadian Association for Marriage & Family Therapy. Deborah is a relationship specialist and mental health generalist, with 25 years of experience as a therapist, psychotherapist, and educator.

Deb has worked with a variety of organizations including the Alberta Alcohol & Drug Abuse Commission as a Counselling Supervisor, Executive Director of the Edmonton Counselling Centre, Grief Care Manager for the Regional Palliative Care Program in Edmonton and as a counsellor for MacEwan University. During this time Deb created a successful private practice in Edmonton and in the town of Edson, Alberta. Deb is also an approved therapist with First Nations & Inuit Health Branch.

In these diverse organizations she gained a wealth of experience in several areas of psychotherapy. In 2010 Deb moved back home to the Okanagan and established a private practise in Vernon. Sunoka Counselling & Consulting Services operates out of The Galbraith House. She maintains her private practice in Edmonton as well via telepsychology.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

PhD, VRIJE, Brussels, Belgium

MSc , Marital and Family Therapy, Loma Linda University

Registered Psychologist, College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC)

Registered Psychologist, College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP)

Registered Marriage & Family Therapist, Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)/RMFT

ASSOCIATIONS

BC Psychological Association

BC Branch of CAMFT

Associate Member of the Taos Institute

VOLUNTEER WORK

BCMFT Board of Directors. President.  2020-Present

Canadian Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (CAMFT), Ethics Committee.  2017-2018.

American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) Division Affairs Steering Committee (DASC). Appointed Member. 2012-2014.

International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement (IWG), Victoria BC. 2013. Invited Guest, Victoria, BC.

American Association Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT), Board Member 2010

The Registry of Marriage & Family Therapists in Canada, President. 2006-2009

Alberta Division Marriage & Family Therapy, Board of Directors. President 2003-2006.

PUBLICATIONS & ARTICLES

Deeter, D (2020).  Grief is not a noun: it is the title that holds the story of relationship. In A. Arnold, K. Bodiford et al. (Eds). Social Construction in Action. (pp 119-126). Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA. A Taos Institute Publication.

Deeter, D (2017) Walking the grief journey with siblings aged 60 years & older. (unpublished doctoral dissertation). VRIJE Universiteit, Brussels Belgium.

Deeter, D. (2013). The Mysterious Disappearance of Siblings in Grief across the Lifespan, ADEC Forum Vol 39.1 January 2013.

Deeter, D. (2008). Walking Beside Grief. Alberta Cancer Board Psychosocial & Palliative Oncology. 1-18.

Deeter, D., Lipsett, B. (2007). Bridging the Crossroads of Psychosocial Education in Palliative Care. Journal of Palliative Care. 23:3 Autumn, 2007, 210.

PRESENTATIONS

May 2020 - Wisdom gained from the grief stories of older siblings: loss, grief, and us. (Webinar)  

Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)

January 2020- Learning from the grief stories of older siblings.

                        North Zone Alberta Health Services Palliative Care Rounds, Edmonton, Alberta.

October 2017 - Walking the Grief Journey with Siblings Aged 60 years & older.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel.  Brussels, Belgium. 

October 2015 - Expanding the concept of sibling grief to senior adulthood.

 26th Annual Palliative Education and Research Days; Covenant Health Palliative Institute, Edmonton, Alberta

2006-2009 - Grief Care Program, Alberta Health Services, Regional Palliative Care, Edmonton & Area.

Anticipatory, Natural, Complicated, Disenfranchised Grief

Understanding Families & Their Grief

Communicating with Grieving Families

Comfort with Disclosure in Complex Care

Grief & The Health Care Professional

Palliative Care & You

Having Difficult Conversations with Patients for the Physician

Understanding Grief

Walking Beside Grief

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

2018 - Grief is not a noun: it is the title that holds the story of relationship.

Taos Conference, Cancun, Mexico.          

2016 - Walking the grief journey with senior siblings. (Paper presentation).

2nd International Conference on Loss, Bereavement and human Resilience in Israel and the World: Facts, Insights & implications. Eilat, Israel.

2014 - Expanding the Concept of Sibling Grief to Senior Adulthood. (Oral presentation).

The 10th International Conference on Grief & Bereavement in Contemporary Society. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

2009 - The Evolving Challenges to Maturity  

Tele health Provincial Education Series, Alberta Health Services Cancer Board. Edmonton, AB

2008 - Vicarious Traumatization: What Does It Mean? 

Alberta Health Services, Edmonton & Area Homecare Teams.

2008 - Working Beside Grief (Proffered Paper)

International Congress on Palliative Care, Montreal, Que.

2007 - Bridging the Crossroads of Psychosocial Education in Palliative Care.

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Conference, Toronto, Ont.

2007 - Evolving Psychosocial Challenges to Maturity.

Elderly End of Life Care Conference, Edmonton, AB.