Debra Bailey PHD

Debra Bailey PHD is a clinical psychologist in West Hartford, Connecticut, whose lifelong interest in human behavior and deep commitment to helping others have shaped her career. Before entering the field of psychology, she spent her early years in the competitive equestrian circuit, training and showing Arabian horses across the United States and Canada. This experience developed her patience, focus, and emotional sensitivity—qualities that would later become the foundation of her therapeutic work. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kent State University in Ohio, where her strong academic record and passion for research led her into the university’s Ph.D. program. During her doctoral studies, she pursued a dual-track focus in Experimental Psychology, emphasizing Personality Theory, Social Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. After completing her master’s thesis and passing comprehensive qualifying exams in both areas, she began integrating scientific study with practical clinical application, forming the basis for her evidence-based approach to psychotherapy. She later moved to Connecticut to complete a pre-doctoral internship in Clinical Psychology at an American Psychological Association-approved psychiatric hospital. Choosing to work with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, she gained valuable experience in understanding complex psychological disorders and the importance of compassionate connection in treatment. Following her internship, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Yale-affiliated West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital, where she explored how brain functioning influences emotion, personality, and behavior. Her professional background includes extensive work in inpatient psychiatric care, leadership of a statewide mobile crisis program, and management of a hospital-affiliated outpatient service. Alongside her clinical work, she has contributed to teaching, research, and policy development, holding academic appointments and publishing studies on the relationship between emotion, behavior, and neuroscience. In her private practice, she provides psychotherapy for older adolescents and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, stress, and relationship challenges. Her forthcoming book, The Elephant and the Turtle: A Metaphor for the Work of Psychotherapy and Personality Change, expresses her belief that humor, creativity, and authenticity can promote healing and personal transformation. Through her thoughtful and compassionate practice, Debra Bailey PHD continues to help individuals discover resilience, self-understanding, and meaningful growth.