About Wild Counseling

Hi, I’m Deb

I grew up in Maryland and was raised by a multicultural family: my Ukrainian-Polish Jewish grandparents, my Swedish mother, and my American father. Living in a multilingual & multigenerational household, impacted by war, cultural differences, and unprocessed trauma, things were… complex, to put it gently. Feelings of disconnection left me confused about myself and lonely in ways I never quite had words for.

I started my own therapy after college, and began a journey I could never have imagined. Curious about psychology, I started working crisis lines, returned to school, and ultimately landed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I supported research on disordered eating patterns among youth. I went on to earn my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California.

Deb Altman, marriage and family therapist in Reno, sitting on a beige armchair near a window with white blinds, inside a cozy therapy office, smiling softly.
Close-up of a brown leather tufted sofa with a gray blanket draped over the armrest, in a cozy therapy office.

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.

Bell Hooks
Relationship therapist, Deborah Altman, smiling towards camera

My Beliefs

My I’ve had the privilege of doing this work across D.C., New York, LA, and now Reno. My clinical foundation began in cognitive behavioral therapy and research, but I quickly grew disillusioned by models that expect people to heal in isolation. Our sense of self doesn't get created in a vacuum, so why would we heal that way?

You don’t need another self-help book, app, or generic advice. You need a guide who understands the messy intersections of your biology, history, and the broad web of systems and institutions you live in every day.

I believe healing starts from the bottom-up - by listening to what your body is carrying rather than just trying to think your way out of it.

Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. My approach is relational, experiential, and integrative because life is integrative. I will never ask you to do more or add to your plate. I want you to release what holds you back, and build a life where you feel anchored, resilient, and connected to your body and your people.

Beyond the Therapy Room

I'm an East Coast transplant, Ashkenazi Jew, climate advocate, soon-to-be-mom, wife, and true-to-form Millennial.

You’ll most likely catch me sprawled on the floor with my dog, obsessively reading or learning (a trait I come by honestly as the daughter of a lawyer and scientist), backpacking or hiking, lounging in the sun, or catching the latest movie release. I’ll either have an episode of Hidden Brain, or some R&B, New Wave, or folk playing in the background.

At my core, I’ve always been drawn to people who have spent much of their lives feeling misunderstood, unloved, or endlessly stressed/anxious - tethered to the invisible, relentless pressure to produce, perform, and achieve.

I believe that our deepest wounds don't mean we are broken; they are the exact places where we learn to navigate challenge, honor our natural intuition, and finally learn to take a breath.

Mostly, I want you, me, and all of us, to feel alive.

Trauma-informed.

Evidence-based.

Client-centered.

My Core Values

  • Root-Cause Healing

    No surface-level Band-Aids. Real, lasting shift requires going beneath symptoms to address the underlying nervous system patterns, relational blueprints, and deep history that drive them.

  • Biology Over Blame

    Your responses make sense. Chronic anxiety, over-functioning, and withdrawal aren't personal failures—they are intelligent survival strategies. We treat your biology with respect, not judgment.

  • Authenticity

    No clinical distance, no toxic positivity. I show up as a real human being in the room, not a sterile textbook. I invite you to show up as exactly who you are, stop masking, and reconnect with what is genuinely true for you.

  • Radical Autonomy

    You are the expert on your life; I am your expert guide. You won't find generic advice, toxic positivity, or task lists here - just practical tools that create space for genuine ease.

  • Context Matters

    We don't exist in a vacuum. You cannot separate your well-being from your relationships, family history, and broader social systems. Meaningful progress honors your whole environment.

  • Inclusivity

    All identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are welcome here. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space where everyone is seen, respected, and supported in their healing.

Advanced Therapy Trainings

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (2022)

Somatic Experiencing (SE)™: Training in progress (2026- present)

Somatic CBT Practitioner: The Embody Lab (2024)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO): IFS Institute Online Circle (2025- present)

Discernment Counseling: Doherty Relationship Institute (2026 - present)

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Level 2 Core Skills (2026)

Gender-Affirming Care: Assessment & Letter writing for medical interventions (2025)