Debra, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Master’s degree from Hawaiʻi Pacific University, provides compassionate, evidence-based care to teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, ADHD, mood disorders, and everyday life stressors. Her approach is respectful, collaborative, and rooted in genuine connection. With over 20 years of nursing experience, she brings both strong clinical expertise and a deeply patient centered perspective to her work.

Debra has several years of experience working in inner city settings, providing care to individuals living with serious mental illness,  treatment resistant conditions, and chronic substance use disorders. This diverse background allows her to meet clients where they are, offering thoughtful, nonjudgmental, and individualized care.

She believes in working side by side with her clients to create a safe, welcoming space where they feel heard, supported, and empowered. Her approach emphasizes practical coping strategies, collaborative treatment planning, and, when appropriate, thoughtful medication management. Guided by Queen Emma’s mission, “To provide quality health care services to all the people of Hawaiʻi,” Debra is deeply committed to expanding access to quality mental health care.

During the first session, she works collaboratively with each client to understand their concerns, clarify goals, and begin developing a personalized treatment plan that supports confidence, balance, and long-term well-being.

Debra arrived on Kauaʻi in 1993 following the devastation of Hurricane Iniki. While participating in island cleanup efforts, she was profoundly moved by the resilience, culture, and people of Hawaiʻi. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in nursing and dedicate her work to supporting individuals and families across Hawaiʻi during life’s most challenging moments.

In her free time, Debra enjoys spending time with her four children, taking her dog on long walks, swimming in the ocean, practicing yoga, cooking, and unwinding with a good book.