Debra Sugar, MSW, LCSW

She/Her

Debra worked as a school social worker in Albuquerque Public Schools with a focus on supporting students and families as they navigate educational and parenting challenges. In the course of that work, she developed a specialization in working with students on the autism spectrum. She then worked at the UNM Center for Development and Disability with the Autism Spectrum Diagnostic Clinic as part of an interdisciplinary evaluation team.

Debra specializes in supporting neurodivergent individuals to learn skills that will help them live the life that they want, including the development of self-awareness, self-regulation and social skills that will help them to reach their personal goals. She works with families to help them develop a parenting style that works best for their children and advocacy skills that they can use to support their children in school and other settings.

Debra also enjoys working with individuals experiencing anxiety, using a combined cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness approach and adjusting it to the individual’s needs.

Debra’s practice is trauma-informed and neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming. Her warmth, empathy and sense of humor are her greatest assets.

Education and Professional Highlights:

MSW – NM Highlands University

BA – Government, Cornell University

Social Work Faculty: New Mexico Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program

Social Work Field Supervisor, NM Highlands University and New Mexico State University

Areas of Specialty:

Autism, Neurodiversity, Anxiety, Stress management, Self-regulation, Learning and school challenges, Parenting challenges, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-focused therapy