Debra Reisinger

Debra Reisinger, PhD


  • Pediatric Psychologist, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I use a family-centered approach to care. I consider each patient and their family's unique situation, needs and perspectives so I can provide culturally sensitive care.
Debra Reisinger, PhD

About

Biography

I’m a clinical psychologist specializing in diagnostic consultation, psychological evaluation, and individual and group treatment services. I care for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and related disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, intellectual disability and fragile X syndrome.

My passion for children with neurodevelopmental disorders began before graduate school. While working as a research specialist with Dr. Jane Roberts in the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Lab at the University of South Carolina, I coordinated two research studies that included infants up through young adulthood with autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome. Since then, my career has been dedicated to providing diagnostic and treatment services for neurodevelopmental disorders.

I have trained in various clinical settings, including schools, intensive outpatient clinics, residential facilities and parent training clinics. I’m trained in several evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) and Regulating Together. When working with families, I incorporate all of my skills learned across treatment settings and evidence-based therapies to provide patients and their families with an individualized treatment approach. I am also passionate about educating families on how to best advocate for their child outside of the clinic setting.

I use a family-centered approach to care. I consider each patient and their family's unique situation, needs and perspectives so I can provide culturally sensitive care. All my work is informed by evidence-based behavioral techniques, including CBT, mindfulness, relaxation strategies and parent training. I also use a systems approach as multiple factors can affect each patient, including family, school, support systems and their community.

My research interests mirror my clinical interests and focus on developmental, diagnostic and treatment outcomes in individuals at high genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder. More specifically, I’m interested in integrating behavioral and biological mechanisms (e.g., eye tracking, EEG, heart rate) to characterize diagnostic outcomes and measure treatment progress.

When I’m not working, I enjoy photography, traveling, cooking, spending time with my two dogs and being with family and friends.

PhD: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 2018.

MA: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 2015.

BS: College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH, 2012.

Internship: The Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2017-2018.

Interests

Diagnostic consultation; psychological evaluation; individual and group treatment services to children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and related disorders including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and fragile X syndrome

Services and Specialties

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology

Interests

Developmental, diagnostic, and treatment outcomes in individuals at high genetic risk for autism spectrum disorders; integration of behavioral and biological mechanisms to characterize diagnostic outcomes and measure treatment progress

Insurance Information

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Publications

Examining the feasibility and utility of heart rate variability on intervention outcomes targeting emotion regulation in autism: a brief report. Reisinger, DL; Goodwin, MS; Horn, PS; Schmitt, LM; Coffman, MC; Shaffer, RC. Scientific Reports. 2024; 14:15409.

Telehealth regulating together pilot trial: emotion regulation intervention for autistic children and adolescents. Coffman, M; Wells, M; Schmitt, LM; Reisinger, DL; Horn, PS; Shaffer, RC. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1401148.

4.53 Examining the Need for Educational Support: 504 Plans and Demographics in Hospitalized Adolescents With Eating Disorders. Iticovici, M; Russell, R; Fodstad, JC; Curtin, MJ; Reisinger, D; Thibodaux, LK. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2024; 63:s247-s248.

An Exploratory Study of Educators' Perspectives Towards Hospital School Program Support for Children with Special Health Care Needs After Hospitalization. Ormiston, HE; Husmann, PR; Wikel, KC; Ruark, C; Reisinger, DL; Curtin, MJ. Continuity in Education. 2024; 5:31-49.

Hospitalized Patients' Education Needs: Review of a Hospital-Based School Program. Rodríguez, GM; Wikel, K; Stefani, KM; Gilbert, EA; Reisinger, DL; Curtin, M. Clinical Pediatrics. 2024; 63:239-243.

6.30 Regulating Together: Improvements in Youth With ASD and Emotion Dysregulation Enrolled in Virtual Intervention. Wells, MR; Coffman, MC; Schmitt, LM; Reisinger, D; Horn, P; Shaffer, R. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2023; 62:s295.

26.2 Continuum of Care Extends Beyond the Hospital: School-Based Supports for Children With Chronic, Complex Inpatient and Outpatient Care. Reisinger, D. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2023; 62:s364.

Regulating Together: Emotion Dysregulation Group Treatment for ASD Youth and Their Caregivers. Shaffer, RC; Schmitt, LM; Reisinger, DL; Coffman, M; Horn, P; Goodwin, MS; Mazefsky, C; Randall, S; Erickson, C. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2023; 53:1942-1962.

Systematic Review: Emotion Dysregulation in Syndromic Causes of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Shaffer, RC; Reisinger, DL; Schmitt, LM; Lamy, M; Dominick, KC; Smith, EG; Coffman, MC; Esbensen, AJ. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2023; 62:518-557.

Provider and Caregiver Satisfaction with Telehealth Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Reisinger, DL; Hines, E; Raches, C; Tang, Q; James, C; Keehn, RM N. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2022; 52:5099-5113.

Patient Ratings and Comments

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating