Like a lotus flower we
too have the ability to
rise from the mud,
bloom out of the
darkness, and
radiate into
the world. 

Dr. Deborah Rutt, PhD LCSW CDWF

The Holding Heart - Individual, Relationship Psychotherapy & Life Coaching, LLC
Intuitive Heart Services,  Communication Consulting,  Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator 


My calling as a therapist began initially from a passion to understand personal communication, starting as speech pathologist specializing in early child development and mother-child interaction. Soon after, I embarked on a career passion to study adult relational communication -- in intimate relationships, friendships and life conversations.  And then psychotherapy found me.  Now with over 25 years of service as a mental health therapist and communication consultant, I still love helping people navigate their human connection with one another in essential life relationships, as well as help people strengthen the relationship with their own self. In my work, I often fuse Western (traditional) with Eastern (nontraditional) perspectives of transformation and incorporate what we know about neurobiology, heart-brain coherence, and the energy frequencies reflected by our thoughts, beliefs and emotions. I take a practical approach to change, finding unique strategies selected from my large toolkit for each individual or couple. I support clients in developing their own meditation practice to help foster a foundation for wellness and resilient change.  And as a gifted intuitive and energy worker, I often integrate readings and energy work into sessions with clients to help get to core issues for change. (See Intuitive Heart tab for description of these sessions).