Deb Wilson is a licensed professional counselor. Her areas of specialty include men’s and women’s issues, working with senior adults, as well as adult victims of domestic violence.
Deb is active in Tennessee’s statewide organization for professional counselors. She and husband, Peter, live in Nashville and are active members in their local church, Cross Point Community Church – Nashville campus. Together they have four children and nine grandchildren.
Along with working with people to change lives, Deb enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and nature. Deb always has a quick smile, calming voice, and is a truly delightful person!
Where did you go to college/grad. school?
I attended Trevecca Nazarene University for both undergrad and graduate school. I took my first college course and turned 40 in my first semester.
Where is a unique place you have lived?
I lived near the coastline of Florida in a little town called Titusville. We could drive down our dirt road to the Indian River. The Indian River is a mile or less from the Atlantic Ocean. Directly across from the end of our road and the Indian River is Cape Canaveral. We watched a few shuttles launch while we lived there. One launch was at 1-2:00 AM. We could read a book from the light given off from the blastoff.
What is a favorite memory from growing up?
One Christmas my grandparents wrapped a box of toothpaste for each of my three brothers and me. My brothers unwrapped the Christmas wrapping and saw a toothpaste box and politely tossed the box aside. Being the “kind, sweet, devoted, and polite” granddaughter I was, I opened my box of toothpaste and found a $50 bill wrapped around the tube. My brothers saw the money and hastily grabbed their toothpaste to see if they had money also. Of course, they did!
What is something you try to do every week?
I try to pray for my clients and the other BabbCenter clients.
What is your favorite type of food?
My favorite type of food is Italian.
What is something about you that very few people know?
When I was a child and young teen, I could shoot a 16-gauge shotgun and hit the targets better than my three brothers!
What is a quote you think about often?
In the movie Shrek, he and Donkey are talking. Donkey tells Shrek that he is like an onion—lots of layers. I use that in counseling when talking with clients to help them understand and envision how we “stuff” our problems and they become like layers inside us.
What is a moment in counseling that stands out to you?
I have a client I have seen for several years. She looked at me and angrily said, “I DO have value!! Those people who tried to keep me down were wrong and they are no better than me!!” What an ah-ha moment!
If you had one piece of advice for most anyone, what would that be?
Give yourself as much—if not more—grace as you give to others.
What truth from the Bible do you want everyone to know?
Perfection will not be found here on Earth. Accept your imperfections and be the best you can possibly be.
What is something practical you learned during your years of preparing to become a therapist?
I will never be able to help everyone, I will never be able to cure anyone, and I am now ok with that.