Dr. Debra Bunce

Dr. Debra Bunce is a licensed clinical psychologist and senior clinician at Boston Child Study Center – Maine. She works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families and specializes in the treatment of anxiety, mood, and simple and complex trauma. Dr. Bunce provides evidence-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT and DBT-PTSD), Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP). She also has been trained in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

Dr. Bunce works diligently to create a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment. She respects, values, and celebrates the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. Dr. Bunce listens carefully and collaborates with clients to make sure their voices are heard and the treatment direction makes sense to them. She believes strongly that people do well if they can and when they are struggling, she remains curious with them and their support network, if appropriate, to understand possible reasons why. As that understanding becomes clear, she enjoys working in partnership with clients and families to problem solve next steps with the goal of increased success and improved self-efficacy.

Dr. Bunce received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Hamilton College in Clinton NY. After two years working in a residential program serving youth with complex behavioral and emotional challenges, she went on to complete her PhD in Child Clinical Psychology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse NY, after which she was hired as their Clinical Coordinator. She developed an anxiety disorders treatment program using CBT. This program included a training component for psychology interns and psychiatry residents.

Prior to joining BCSC, Dr. Bunce worked at Spurwink Services as the Director of Clinical Practices for their children’s residential and educational treatment programs. Dr. Bunce oversaw the development and implementation of Spurwink’s treatment approach that primarily included the following evidence-based models: Children and Residential Experiences (CARE), ARC, and Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support (SCERTS). CARE is a principle-based program model designed to be implemented by all staff working at an agency. ARC is a clinical treatment model for youth who have experienced complex trauma and their families. SCERTS is a clinical and educational model for youth who have complex developmental challenges including Autism and/or severe language or cognitive challenges. Dr. Bunce was a lead trainer at Spurwink for CARE, ARC, and SCERTS and she provided regular supervision and consultation for the residential and day treatment program leaders and clinicians.

When she first joined Spurwink, Dr. Bunce worked in their outpatient program providing psychological and educational assessments for youth, parental capacity evaluations for adults, individual and family therapy, and post-doctoral supervision. She was trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation System (ADOS) as part of her role on the Autism Diagnostic Team. She facilitated CBT trainings and monthly supervision for clinicians in multiple roles across the agency.