Dr. Debbie Quackenbush
Senior Psychologist, Ph.D.
Debbie Quackenbush is originally from the US and has been practicing as a psychologist for over 35 years. She is one of the founders of the Little White House.
With over thirty-three years experience Dr. Quackenbush’s credentials make her among the more qualified psychologists in Denmark. Dr. Quackenbush is authorized to practice in Denmark, and has also been licensed to practice in the United States for over 20 years. She is an English-speaking native. Consultation can be provided either face-to-face at her Copenhagen office, on the phone, or using videoconferencing. Consultation is tailored to meet the individual’s needs and is provided in a warm and supportive manner.
In addition to treating individual adults, Dr. Quackenbush is passionate about helping couples. She has specialized training in the Gottman Method, and has helped numerous couples over the years.
Dr. Quackenbush also has published in the area of technology and psychology. More specifically, she has been writing about forming attachments online since 2011 and was an early adopter of the use of technology in the provision of therapy. She gave lectures to other psychologists about the ethical and clinical issues involved in providing such services. She has also lectured at Grand Rounds at the Baylor College of Medicine about this topic. This knowledge has obvious implications in a post-COVID-19 world.
More about working with me
Availability
I try to keep my availability updated, but please, if you are a new client, contact me prior to setting an initial appointment.
Frequency of sessions
When I begin working with a client, it’s important for me to get to know them, and for them to begin to feel comfortable and safe with me. I have found that this is best achieved through regular, weekly, psychotherapy. Of course, I know that there will be illnesses and vacations that come up, but in general, I much prefer to work with people who want to do regular work. This may change, after a time where we feel we are making sustained progress. Clients who come back for a ‘tune up’ may also come less frequently, but I am generally not open to less frequent sessions for individuals or couples that I am just getting to know. An exception is when couples decide to do marathon sessions.
Using insurance
With the exception of insurance companies that work with Prescriba, if you have insurance, you still must pay in advance. I will provide you with an invoice so you can get reimbursed.
Canceling an appointment
My scheduling software intentionally does not let clients cancel their own appointments. This is by design. If someone is feeling particularly distressed and potentially even suicidal, I want them to contact me first, to cancel the session. This is a safety measure. On the other hand, anyone is free to reschedule sessions, using the software. Frequent rescheduling may disrupt our relationship and may be something we need to talk about.
Free consultations
I give free consultations through the Little White House, every other Tuesday at 16. I only do this for individuals because I have found that the short time period is too little for a couple. Couples can ask me about a reduced fee free consultation, if they choose.
Goals
When we start working together, we will, in the first couple of sessions, try to agree on some general goals of treatment. For many clients, I also give questionnaires regarding mental health in order to assess progress as we go. It is my strong intention to be helpful and have means of assessing that. If for some reason, you are not improving, I want to be able to address that and maybe change tactics or re-assess.
Technique/style
My training is varied and I find that I tend to think like a psychodynamic therapist, taking into consideration your family and upbringing and even sometimes your ancestors. However, I often use tools and give CBT-type homework and think that practical help is good– particularly for short-term amelioration of symptoms. For couples, I have had extensive training in the Gottman method which is very tools-based. It requires a four session assessment prior to getting started. My clients often report that I use a lot of humor in my practice and I would tend to agree with that. My office style is informal, and my dog might even attend.
Available times/days
I generally work from my office on Monday through Wednesday. Online appointments are available on Thursdays and Fridays. I have very few evening appointments available and they tend to get filled quickly. You will be most likely to find a session with me in the mid-day.
Online versus in person
I have come to a point in my life where I have accepted that some sessions will be online. If you or I have a cold, for example, that might be the best way to proceed. I also travel for up to six weeks a year where I practice only online. If you are not open to some online appointments, perhaps another therapist would be a better fit for you.
If you feel your questions were not answered in the above, please feel free to email me at drdebbieq@debbiequackenbush.com
Publications
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00332747.2015.1092854
Contact
Dr. Quackenbush’s availability (updated May 2024): Please contact me me prior to seeing up an appointment to ensure that I will have time to see you. Email is drdebbieq@debbiequackenbush.com OR send an SMS (I often cannot answer the phone) to 6054 7202.
Fees
1200 DKK per 50 minutes (non insurance clients)