Fighting the Invisible: Deanna Barlow Deutsch’s Story of Advocacy, Neurodivergence, and Systemic Change

Deanna Barlow Deutsch, B.Ed., MA, CCC, RP, is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, the Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta, and a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Deanna has her undergraduate degree as a special education teacher and her Master’s in Counselling and is currently working on her Doctoral degree in Behavioral Health. Deanna has been a Psychotherapist since 2006. Deanna believes in and supports others in making choices that create a sustainable, enjoyable, and fulfilling life and relationships. The skills to take on experiencing setbacks and failing forward. Deanna has been passionate and determined to make healthy changes in her life with the skills she has as a psychotherapist. Deanna believes we all hit the limit of our resources to cope, at times, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and need some support. She is always honored to take that sacred path with another human through the dark times to see brighter and hopeful times ahead. She believes that teaching skills to self-soothe, move through tough emotional states, and understand our inner workings, needs, and challenges is a privilege to be able to do in her work. Deanna has felt very blessed to be there with those seeking her support in their vulnerable time and to help them see their brilliance beyond the disillusionment they may experience in the moment’s struggle. Deanna believes that remembering our strengths and seeing our capacity to heal, grow, and overcome challenges is a beautiful journey.

How are you actively contributing to or impacting your local community through your behavioral health expertise?

Having released 118lbs myself since 2018 I am passionate about helping other women overcoming chronic obesity and make changes to increase overall health, wellbeing and life longevity. I appreciate how hard it is to put ones health first when we are constantly told, especially as women, to please others, care for others and seek outside acceptance and recognition. This work is a deep work that goes right to the core of who we are and how we define our very identity and value as a human being. Helping women to speak with their full authenticity, maintain boundaries for self care, treat their health recovery as their priority as if their life depends on it, as it does, and reclaim their power where it is being given without conscious consent is a labour of love for me.

Can you share an aspect of your professional experience that has influenced your approach to behavioral health?

Being diagnosed in my 40s with adult ADHD after my child’s diagnosis I have learned much about how I am not represented in the approach of service delivery and the processes that make up how many of the systems in our society function. Learning and thinking in a neurodivergent way if often seen as less than and this is not my experience. Those that are diverse deserve to be seen as equal and even gifted in various domains. I have been someone who has struggled to fit in and subjugated herself many times to fit the popular narrative and not be a target. I am sad this has taken much of my vitality and capacity to be authentic and contribute to the development of new ways of engaging health. I am moving into a stage of my life as I get closer to 50 years old of overcoming such barriers and being the disruptor for healing and change that I have had on my heart to be my whole life.

What specific challenge have you encountered in the behavioral health field and how do you envision addressing or overcoming similar challenges in the future?

I have had challenges of being silenced, shut down, judged and condemned for being too energetic, seeing angles others dismiss and invalidate and not feeling my unique contribution or the room or conversation matters. I am done with this. I now see my worth and own the space I am in. Doing this involved advocating for others who need to be seen and overcome discrimination to receive proper care. Whether with being fully informed in health decision making or being able to ask questions and seek clarification to feel secure in a choice around their own health. Whether physically, mentally or emotionally. I am driven to support women in particular to be visible and push back to get their needs met. Handling the tension that this entails is something many women struggle with as we have been socialized to peace keep, people please and avoid conflict. Flexing our mental and emotional muscles to stand our ground for our needs is not the norm and I want this to change.

Highlight a situation that has been particularly influential in shaping your understanding of integrated care and behavioral health.

I work in a clinic with physicians where we provide a multidimensional support structure to overcome barriers to weight loss. This approach should be the norm for best practices care in obesity medicine. Patients need education and support to make lifestyle changes and overcome barriers. Our world is not set up with whole food drive thrus. It is a struggle that is not completely their fault or creation and learning this, having providers with the time and investment to encourage, support and utilize best practices for optimal treatment and outcomes is what women deserve.Providers need to overcome silos and work together so patients can heal and have the skills and support they need from their treatment teams.

How do you see yourself making a lasting impact in behavioral health?

Being an advocate for women’s rights and especially those struggling with obesity and ADHD is a passion for me. Being different is hard enough but having to overcome discrimination, stereotypes and the dismissive narrative that women experience in seeking care is not ok. This narrative and the words, actions, environments and collaborations between providers needs to be updated and optimized for women to be elevated to their full health potential. I want to see women shine.

What inspired you to pursue the DBH program?

I am an avid learner and am passionate about feeding my brain and heart with new skills and knowledge. I was looking at how best to learn and grow and an organization that would fit my needs and interested. CGI has such an incredible community of passionate, driven learners that are motivated to take action and make change in the systems that are broken. The drive to overcome barriers and disrupt the norm really spoke to my soul. I knew that the professional respect and regard I would be able to leverage with my DBH would open doors and minds to hear what is possible and needs to happen for us to serve woman and their health at the optimal level that we should be serving them. This degree supports my love of learning, commitment to providing evidence based, effective health care in collaboration with other providers and my need for a community of like minded professional on fire for change.

What ways has the DBH program impacted your role at work or career goals?

My workplace has been incredibly invested in my learning and the gems I can bring back to optimize our patient care and this journey has elevated my confidence in my path and plan to inspire me to start building my own practice,Healing Habits Psychotherapy. I am invested in developing a service that collaborates with physicians and other allied professionals to support our patients optimal health and wellbeing in all areas.

Deanna Barlow Deutsch’s Doctor of Behavioral Health journey is more than a pursuit of advanced education, it is a reflection of her unwavering commitment to personal growth, equity, and systemic change in behavioral health. Her experiences navigating the healthcare system as a woman, a neurodivergent individual, and a provider have shaped her determination to advocate for those often overlooked or misunderstood. Whether guiding women through the deeply personal work of reclaiming their health or challenging the stigma surrounding ADHD and obesity, Deanna brings compassion, authenticity, and courage to every space she enters.

Connect with Deanna Barlow Deutsch

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Website: www.healinghabits.ca coming soon

Deanna Shares Insightful Advice on Pursuing a DBH

Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”
Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The DBH represents something that I've always embraced in my professional career. And that's collaboration and working across a lot of different disciplines to make sure you’re delivering the best care for the patient. Everything is about being patient centered about finding innovative ways and creative ways to collaborate with other professionals.”
CDR Sean K. Bennett, LCSW, MSWAC, BCDDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - October 10, 2023

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”
Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”
Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has been a pivotal turning point in my understanding and application of behavioral health principles. Recently, the concept of ‘whole person health’ has gained widespread attention in healthcare circles, becoming somewhat of a buzzword. Like many others, I embraced this term, believing in my capacity to deliver comprehensive care.

Prior to my engagement with the program, my approach, albeit well-intentioned, lacked an appreciation for the intricate interplay between physical and mental health. More importantly, the role of unmet social needs as a catalyst for health disparities was a dimension I had not fully integrated into my practice. The DBH program illuminated these connections, offering me a robust framework to understand and address the multifaceted needs of individuals, especially within marginalized communities.

Additionally, the confidence I have gained through the DBH program extends beyond theoretical knowledge. My role as a connector and advocate for these individuals has become more pronounced, driven by a deep-seated commitment to fostering accessibility, equity, and comprehensiveness in care.”
Michelle Stroebel MA, NCC, LCMHC, NADD-CCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - June 12, 2024

“I have worked in behavioral health for the entirety of my professional career starting with college internships up to my current role as Deputy Executive Commissioner of Behavioral Health for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. While I have years of experience in the field, the DBH program at Cummings has framed my perspective as leveraging therapy as a first line of intervention. As a public servant, much of the work I do is usually in the aftermath of crises or when the system is being forced to respond to a service gap. However, the DBH program takes a much more proactive and integrative approach to health. This perspective/approach has the potential to positively shape policy in Texas in my role as a public servant charged with addressing the safety net needs of the most vulnerable constituents in Texas.”
Trina K. Ita, MA, LPCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - July 10, 2024

“CGI feels like a community of long-lost cousins that finally met as adults and we realized that we share the same goals. The support from the faculty and classmates have been nothing short of amazing. I can reach out to my advisor at any given time to discuss course work, career endeavors, or to just vent about life. There is a feeling of closeness and belongingness at CGI that is just unmatched. I am very happy to be a member of the family and will continue to spread the word of how great this DBH program is.”
Michelle Francis, LCSW/LICSW-QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 10, 2024

“The DBH program’s mission, purpose, and objective say it all: We strive for intentional care outcome improvement practices that exemplify whole person-centered integrated healthcare advanced competency. The program of study drives insights and awareness of the ever-changing patient population and multidisciplinary practice environments to change how the world experiences healthcare. This is further reinforced by the pillars of medical literacy, integrated behavioral health intervention, and entrepreneurship skills and expertise. Development growth is needed to prepare the aspiring DBH for the future of the shifting healthcare marketplace through international networking in a growing community of disruptive innovators and an evolving movement toward systemic healthcare change. I feel that I will be positioned alongside a fellowship of like-minded professionals trying to improve the quality of healthcare service delivery value and outcome sustainability.”
Jose Mathew, LCSW, LAC, ACS, EMDR-T, CCTP-IIDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - October 8, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”
Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“By becoming a DBH, I have found that I am able to have different conversations with different people. Before having my doctorate degree, I was able to speak to certain items in behavioral health, but was only seen as a licensed therapist where as a doctor, I am able to speak to the changemakers and policy makers in a more collaborative manner which then allows us as a group to enhance the services we are providing. I also found that as a DBH, my confidence in the treatment room has improved immensely and cases that may have been more difficult for me before are no longer as difficult due to the training I have received in the program.”
Dr. Allison Earl, DBH, LPC-SDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 13, 2024

“I think the DBH is quite groundbreaking, it allows you to study from anywhere in the world. The support is fantastic, and you can make out of the DBH what you want. Unlike standard professional doctorates, the DBH was trying to break new ground, not trying to go over just old ground. It greatly encourages its students to be those people who break new ground.

As a person who actually has a disability, I found CGI staff to be very supportive, very accommodating. If I need extensions, they are always there. In fact the staff will reach out and check on you, if they haven’t heard from you in a very short period of time. Which I have never had from any other university.

I find the community of fellow DBH students absolutely wonderful, we reach out across numerous social media platforms, we email each other. Doesn’t matter where I am in the world or where they are in the world, everyone is supportive. Its support, support and encouragement with the DBH.”
Jason P. Sargent, B Policing, GDip Psych, MSW, JPDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 10, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”
Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”
Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”
Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”
Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”
Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”
DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025

“The DBH program has been integral in preparing me for leadership roles by providing a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of leadership within the behavioral health sector. Through coursework, case studies, and hands-on experiences, I have learned to lead with empathy, data-driven decision-making, and strategic planning. The program has also honed my skills in organizational development, communication, and policy advocacy, equipping me to effectively lead teams, drive impactful change, and foster environments that promote positive behavioral health outcomes. With this training, I am confident in my ability to lead initiatives that address systemic barriers and improve care delivery.”
Dr. Jerrika Henderson, DBH, CMHCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 18, 2025