About Dr. Fischer
"A good listener helps us overhear ourselves."
~Yahia Lababidi (b. 1973)
Psychology is my passion! I strive for excellence in providing psychotherapy services to the best of my ability by continually educating myself and keeping informed of the latest developments in the field of psychology and psychotherapy. I always provide strict confidentiality and privacy for all my patients and act in the best interest of the patient in accordance with the American Psychological Association ethical principles and code of conduct.
I received my B.A. degree in Psychology with a minor emphasis in Special Education and Rehabilitation in 1992 from the University of Arizona. Then in 1997, I received my Master's in Counseling degree from Arizona State University. One of my proudest moments came in 2000 when I was noted as an outstanding doctoral student during the Commencement Ceremony when I was awarded my Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University.
Throughout the course of my graduate and postdoctoral studies, I participated in many hands-on, didactic experiences in therapy. In addition to providing counseling services to students at Arizona State University as a master's level therapist, I counseled at several agencies throughout the Phoenix area including Center Against Sexual Abuse (CASA) and Terros Behavioral Health Center. As a predoctoral intern, I was introduced to the wonderful world of psychoanalytic psychotherapy during my year at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois where I provided clinical psychology services to undergraduate and graduate students. Upon returning to my beloved Arizona, I completed a postdoctoral residency at the Maricopa Medical Center Department of Psychiatry with a neuropsychologist as my supervisor and working alongside an anesthesiologist in managing chronic pain. I also completed my postdoctoral hours in supervised private practice with two supervisors, one of whom was a psychiatric nurse specializing in postpartum syndromes. I received my license to practice as a psychologist in the State of Arizona since 2003.
During my doctoral program of study, I published a scholarly article in the Journal of Counseling Psychology based on my master's thesis entitled, "Revision and Validation of the Deaf Identity Development Scale." Since publication, this article has been cited in research studies, both nationally and internationally and has been translated into French.
What is unique about my practice is that I bring a wealth of personal experiences as an individual with a hearing loss. Having this challenge grounds me to be a more sensitive and caring person with an enhanced understanding of anyone who steps into my office.
As a third-generation native of Arizona, I was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss, bilaterally (in both ears) since birth. I was given the gift of sound through hearing aids at six months old and practiced speech and lipreading at the same time by participating in speech therapy for the next 16 years. At age 32, I was implanted with a cochlear device which is indeed a medical technology miracle! I am able to better pick up the subtle nuances and variations in my patients' voices. My eternal thanks to the dedicated teachers, educators, speech therapists, and doctors of the deaf.
One of my patients after several months of psychotherapy remarked to me, "Even though you can't hear like me, boy, you can really hear!" Active listening is a skill honed and practiced by experienced clinicians and is the cornerstone of a successful therapy.
If I had to use one word to describe myself as a therapist, it would be dedicated and genuine. Okay, that is two words! As part of my dedication to my profession, I have joined several professional associations. I am a member of the American Psychological Association, Arizona Psychological Association, Arizona Psychoanalytic Society, Anxiety Disorders of America, and Alexander Graham Bell Assocation for the Deaf. I served as President of the Southwest Psychoanalytic Society.
