Deborah Norris

Debbie Norris is the Founder and Executive Director of The Mindfulness Center. She is trained extensively in mind-body practices, ranging from traditional clinical and psychotherapeutic practices to holistic and integrative lifestyle practices. A health scientist with over 30 years of experience in research, clinical application and education, Dr. Norris brings yoga, meditation, and other lifestyle wellness programs to the forefront of health care. Dr. Norris has a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in psychology/ psychopharmacology.  She is the Founder and Director of the Psychobiology of Healing program and Psychologist-in-Residence in the Department of Psychology at American University. Dr. Norris teaches and conducts research in behavioral care, and other mind-body approaches to wellbeing. Dr. Norris was previously on the faculty in the Psychiatry Department at Georgetown University Medical School, and taught research principles in psychopharmacology to the physician residents at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital. Dr. Norris worked for 15 years as a health scientist specializing in neurotoxicology and environmental illnesses at the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Norris has studied a number of mind-body-spirit modalities. She has intensive training through the Washington Center for Consciousness Studies in the theory and practice of Gestalt Psychotherapy and meditation. She has also trained with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Integrating her studies of mind and body, Dr. Norris is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and is certified in exercise physiology by the American College of Sports Medicine and other certifying organizations. She is an instructor for the Arthritis Foundation. And she is 200-hr ERYT certified with Yoga Alliance.  In her quest for continuing education, Dr. Norris is also trained and certified in a number of forms of bioenergetic practices, including Reconnective (deleted) (TM) with Dr. Eric Pearl. Dr. Norris has over forty years of experience in health sciences, exercise and dance, receiving her first National Science Foundation Research Fellowship to study the genetics of behavior at NIH in 1974. Debbie apprenticed with the New York City Ballet in 1976.  She has also studied ballet with Ola Fatum of the Royal Danish Ballet, and Elizabeth Carrol of the Harkness Ballet.  She studied Modern Dance with Honya Holm, and taught with Erika Thimey in Washington, D.C. in 1975.  She has also studied traditional Spanish Dance, African Dance, and Hindu dance forms; as well as studying and teaching Ballroom dance. In her practice, Dr. Norris integrates lifestyle elements of meditation, physical exercise, spiritual development, energy work, imagery, nutrition and herbalism for maximal health and happiness! She is a leader in holistic health and the New Health Care Paradigm.