Debra Kissen, PhD, MHSA is the Founder and CEO of Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Centers, a growing network of specialty clinics dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based treatment for anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. A licensed clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and recipient of the IOMC Innovation in Health Care/Health Care Delivery Award, Dr. Kissen has devoted her career to expanding access to high-quality Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through innovative clinical programs, clinician training, public education, and integrated models of care.
Known for translating complex psychological science into practical, easy-to-apply strategies, Dr. Kissen is passionate about helping people become their own coaches rather than lifelong therapy patients. Her work focuses on empowering children, teens, adults, and families with skills that promote lasting resilience and freedom from anxiety.
Dr. Kissen is an internationally recognized speaker and has presented to healthcare organizations, universities, schools, and professional audiences on anxiety, OCD, resilience, and evidence-based treatment. She is also a frequent media contributor, providing expert commentary and practical mental health guidance through television, radio, podcasts, print, and digital media.
She has co-authored several Light On Anxiety books, including tOvercoming Parental Anxiety, the Panic Workbook for Teens, Rewire Your Anxious Brains for Teens: Using CBT, Neuroscience, and Mindfulness to Help You End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry and Break Free from Intrusive Thoughts: An Evidence-Based Guide for Managing Fear and Finding Peace.
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Kissen enjoys playing tennis, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and three children. She approaches life with curiosity, creativity, and a love of solving complex problems—qualities that continue to inspire her work as a clinician, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for improving access to evidence-based mental health care.