Deanna Young, MA

Registered Psychological Associate: 94028089

Deanna Young is currently completing her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University, where her work has been recognized with multiple awards for academic excellence, community service, and advocacy. Her dissertation, Collaborative Music Making and Resilience, reflects her longstanding interest in the intersection of creative process, identity, and psychological healing.

Ms. Young brings a thoughtful, psychodynamically informed perspective to her clinical work, shaped by diverse experience across outpatient, community mental health, residential, and private practice settings. She has provided care for individuals managing complex trauma, mood and personality disorders, and eating disorders, with a clinical emphasis on relational depth, emotional safety, and the therapeutic alliance.

At Heal NPD, she works under the supervision of Dr. Ettensohn to provide careful assessment and psychotherapy grounded in contemporary psychodynamic and relational approaches.

A passionate advocate for culturally responsive care, Deanna has been active in both leadership and editorial roles, including serving as Assistant Editor for the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy and chairing the Student Advocacy Club at Alliant. She has published on the impact of sociopolitical events on the therapeutic relationship and has presented research at regional and national conferences. Her clinical work is marked by intellectual curiosity, integrity, and a deep respect for the complexity of the human psyche.

Presentations:

Hugg, L., Guerrero, M., Sohn, L., Fitzgerald, J., Young, D., Pham, A., Peluso, A., & Shabeer, A. (2023, May 19). Critical Thinking, Resilience, & Microaggressions: Protecting Against Burnout in Doctoral Interns [Poster Presentation]. SVPA’s 2023 Conference From Recovery to Triumph: Healing in the Pandemic Era, Sacramento, CA, United States

Dimits, E., Gibson, J., Rodriguez Leon, P., Conception, L., Young, D. (2019, June 22). #HumanizeTheBadge, Dehumanize the Public? Content Analysis of Police #LipsyncChallenge Videos [Poster Presentation]. SPSSI’s 2019 Conference Fighting Injustice: The Power of Research, Policy, and Activism in Challenging Times, San Diego, CA, United States

Articles:

Young, D., Shabeer, A., Fernandez, A., Morales-Rivera, R. (2023, Oct 29). The Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on a Client’s Wellbeing and the Therapeutic Relationship. Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/the-impact-of-dobbs-v-jackson-on-a-clients-well-being-and-the-therapeutic-relationship/