Our Therapists
Director – Deborah Pettitt: MC, LPC, RPT-S
Deborah is the Director of the Family Christian Counseling Center of Phoenix. She has extensive training and experience in treating children. She is one of a few Registered Play Therapist Supervisors in the state of Arizona. Deborah is trained in Bruce Perry’s neurosequential model and teaches Child and Adolescent Counseling at Fuller seminary. Her specialty is helping children recover from trauma, abuse and neglect. She is skilled in treating attachment issues. Parents are always an integral part of this process. Click to see Deborah’s full biography and extensive post graduate training. Click to see an Attachment and Trauma specific list for post graduate training. Click to subscribe to the RSS feed for Deborah’s blog. (Arizona licensure for Deborah Pettitt).(Click for “Quick tips by Deborah”).
Mike DeMoss - MAPC, LPC
Mike specializes in marriage, family, individual and adolescent counseling. He uses the Gottman Method for couple’s therapy, Systems Theory for family therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for adult individuals and adolescents. His Christian background gives him a heartfelt desire to help people heal. Mike’s compassion, encouragement and enthusiasm allow him to relate to individuals in a way that helps affect positive change in their lives. Visit Mike’s blog to read more about marriage and family counseling. (Arizona licensure for Mike DeMoss). Expanded Biography. Mike has completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Marriage training. Click to read more information concerning Gottman Marriage Therapy. Click to view payment information.
Dr. Brie Turns - PhD, LMFT
Dr. Brie Turns treats individuals, couples, and families encountering a variety of life’s struggles, such as marital concerns, parenting challenges, depression, and anxiety. Brie specializes in families raising a child with special needs. She adheres to a model of therapy called Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, meaning that many discussions in therapy will be centered on potential solutions rather than discussing the origins of the problem. These conversations allow clients to identify their preferred outcome and begin making small changes to reach their goals. With this model of therapy, most clients experience positive outcomes within a relatively short time. Brie has also been specifically trained in premarital therapy and intimate partner violence. Brie has published articles, book chapters, and magazine articles within the field of family therapy. She has also presented at local, state, national, and international conferences regarding families raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Click to view Dr. Turns CV. Click to view Dr. Turns Arizona license.
Kent Bertrand, M.Div, M.S.MFT
Kent received his Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Seminary. Previously he was the lead pastor of a church his wife and he planted together. During his time as pastor he realized that, beneath the surface, everybody has struggles, and most people have struggles far deeper than anybody knows. His desire is to provide a safe and non-judgmental place for healing. He works with adults, couples, families and teens. Kent’s goal is to help people overcome their struggles and thrive personally, relationally and professionally. . Kent’s studies include Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Gottman Marital Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Click to view Kent's Arizona license.
Danen Downs, LAMFT
Danen graduated from Fuller Seminary with a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Danen sees children, adults, and families. He has advanced training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the treatment of trauma. He has also taken specialized training in working with children and couples. Danen is a former teacher who also has experience working effectively with teens.
Kerri Garner, LPC
Kerri Garner, LPC, specializes in the use of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and EMDR along with Theraplay® in her work with children, adolescents, families, and adults. She has advanced training and is a certified professional in all three of these modalities. An adoptive mother herself, Kerri is passionate about bringing children and their caregivers into closer, healing relationships with each other. While her specialties include childhood abuse, trauma, attachment, PTSD, relationship, and parenting, she enjoys working with cross-cultural transition and multicultural experiences as well. She has also partnered with several children’s’ homes, providing therapy to their children and, more importantly, training the caregivers and staff in Theraplay and trauma-informed care. Kerri earned her Masters in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Chicago in 1999 and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001.
Susie Gonzalez, MAC, LAC
Susie Gonzalez enjoys working with women and couples. She uses the evidence based Gottman Method with Couples and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with women of all ages.. She offers hope to women who have experienced trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety, and are parents of addicted children. She also has experience with Complicated Grief Therapy and women recovering from substance abuse. Susie has life experience as a former missionary to Mexico and presently serves as a pastor’s wife. She understands the complex issues of church life and relationships. Though she has a deep personal faith she is sensitive to each persons choice about bringing faith in to the therapy session and warmly supports them in their personal journey. She loves giving practical and life-giving tools to all. Susie is a graduate of Phoenix Seminary with a Masters degree in counseling. She is bilingual and welcomes Spanish-speaking clients. Click to view her Arizona license.
Sara Brown, M.S.MFT
Sara graduated from Fuller Seminary with a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has previously worked as a teacher and has four of her own children ages 9 to 18. She has experience mentoring children at her local church. She has worked through grief issues herself and has led grief support groups for women. Sara sees children and teens and adult women.
