Dr. Deborah Vinall
PsyD, LMFT
Deborah Vinall is a trauma therapist, researcher, and award-winning author specializing in abuse recovery and the psychological impact of trauma. As Chief Psychological Consultant for Recovered.org, she provides expert insight on trauma, addiction, and mental health for national media and public audiences.
About Dr. Vinall
Deborah Vinall is a trauma therapist, researcher, and author specializing in abuse recovery and the psychological impact of trauma. She serves as Chief Psychological Consultant for Recovered.org and writes regularly about trauma, recovery, and belonging on her Substack, Mental Health Musings.
She is the author of the award-winning books Gaslighting and Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens, and her research on survivors of mass shootings has received support from the EMDR Research Foundation.
Prior to and alongside her private practice, Deborah has worked extensively with foster youth and survivors of sex trafficking in community, clinic, and group home settings.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Vinall has been awarded several prizes based on her psychological and literary work.
- EMDR Research Foundation Sandra Wilson Memorial Grant (2020)
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinton E. Phillips Award (2016)
- Hope International University MFT Achievement Award (2005)
- Chanticleer International Book Awards Winner, Best in Category - Instruction & Insight (2022)
- International Conference on Abuse, International Book Awards Winner - Mental Health (2023)
- Nautilus Gold Award, Young Adult Non-Fiction (2024)
Credentials and areas of focus
Deborah’s clinical expertise centers on trauma recovery and the treatment of high-impact and relational trauma. She works with individuals navigating the psychological effects of abuse, violence, and complex attachment wounds, with particular focus on:
Credentials and Affiliations
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences - Licensed
- EMDR International Association - Certified, clinical member
- Brainspotting.com - Certified, clinical member
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - Clinical member
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- The Authors Guild
Published Work
Dr. Vinall has authored two books focusing on the recovery process from difficult psychological situations.
Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide
Gaslighting is a targeted form of manipulation, deception, and control that makes you doubt your own perceptions and memories. Whether you’ve experienced gaslighting or emotional abuse from someone in your life, or you think you might have, Gaslighting: A Step-By-Step Recovery Guide gives you the tools to recognize it and the steps to begin healing.
Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens
We are greater than the trauma and pain we may experience in our lives. This workbook illuminates how healing is possible, explores what trauma is, and shows teens how they can embrace their emotions while developing resiliency. Help teens find a renewed sense of hope as they learn how to work through their trauma and improve their mental health.
Featured in
A word From Dr. Vinall
"Understanding trauma changes how we see ourselves — and how we build a more compassionate world."
