Deborah A. O'Donnell, PhD,
Before I stepped into my current work as a psychotherapist, I did a lot of research and scholarly writing in graduate school at Yale University, at research-clinical settings including Massachusetts General Hospital and Children's National Medical Center, and as an associate professor of psychology at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Deborah A. O'Donnell, PhD
is a licensed psychologist in Maryland (#03958)
Dr. O'Donnell earned a PhD at
Yale University
Dr. O'Donnell completed a
doctoral internship at
Children's National Medical Center
*Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Children and Adults:
Depression
Anxiety
Traumatic Stress
Children:
Behavioral Disorders
Autism Spectrum
*Workshops and
Continuing Education Seminars
expertise
About me
I am highly knowledgeable in aspects of trauma, anxiety, depression, and childhood behavioral disorders. I use this knowledge and skill in my psychotherapy work as a licensed psychologist and as a presenter at workshops and continuing education seminars.
Some highlights of my previous work are below.
This published article reflects my dissertation work at Yale:
O’Donnell, D. A., Schwab-Stone, M. E., & Ruchkin, V. (2006). The mediating role of alienation in the development of maladjustment in youth exposed to community violence. Development and Psychopathology, 18(1), 215–232. doi:10.1017/S0954579406060123
I collaborated with Yale Medical School psychiatrist Mary Schwab-Stone, MD on a series of articles looking at violence in New Haven, CT neighborhoods through the large-scale survey The Social and Health Assessment.
Sample publication: O'Donnell DA, Schwab-Stone ME, Muyeed AZ. Multidimensional resilience in urban children exposed to community violence. Child Dev. 2002 Jul-Aug;73(4):1265-82. doi: 10.1111/1467-8624.00471. PMID: 12146747.
In my training at Children's National Medical Center, with the International Center to Heal Our Children, I collaborated with Dr. Paramjit Joshi, MD on a series of publications centering on trauma and community (local and interational).
Sample publication: Joshi, P., Dalton, M., & O’Donnell, D. A. (2007). Ethical issues in local, national, and international disaster psychiatry. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17(1), 165-186.
In my years as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Mary's College of Maryland, I co-led a community-collaborative study on neighborhoods and schools in The Republic of The Gambia, West Africa.
Sample publication:
O'Donnell DA, Roberts WC, Schwab-Stone ME. Community violence exposure and post-traumatic stress reactions among Gambian youth: the moderating role of positive school climate. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2011 Jan;46(1):59-67. doi: 10.1007/s00127-009-0162-x. Epub 2009 Nov 17. PMID: 19921080.
In my role as a private practice licensed psychologist, I have presented continuing education seminars for the Southern Maryland Psychological Association (SMPA).
Sample SMPA continuing education presentations:
Ethical Decision Making in Mental Health Practice, 3/21/2025
Therapist Ethical Self-Reflection, upcoming on 12/10/2025
I have been quoted in two Baltimore Sun articles.
On June 5, 2024, an article about the impact of the managed care crisis: This Marylander had insurance. Why was it so hard to get her daughter mental health help? by Angela Roberts, health reporter
On May 10, 2008 an article featuring one of my students at St. Mary's College of Maryland: From refugee to graduate by Gadi Dechter
Contact me at 240=587-0457 or deborah@deborahodonnellpsychologist.com to learn more about psychotherapy, continuing education seminars or workshops.
Dr. O'Donnell is networked with:
Medicare
Tricare/Humana Military
Dr. O'Donnell is an out-of-network provider for other health insurance companies
Insurance
Education
Training
Dr. O'Donnell completed clinical training at Yale University:
-Center for Anxiety and Mood Disorders
-Center for Eating and Weight Disorders
-Child Study Center
-Parenting Center