Team

We are a small band of disruptive innovators who are mission-driven and who strive to make a difference in the lives of people with psychiatric disabilities. We create tools, training, and technologies that support the recovery of people with mental illness. We have fun, we love what we do and we give it our all…

Deborah Anderson
Managing Partner

Getting involved with the consumer/survivor/ex-patient (c/s/x) movement was the beginning of my personal journey of recovery. I had received an MSW from Boston University, and I took a job as a community organizer with M-POWER, the new statewide c/s/x organization in Massachusetts. As an organizer, I helped M-POWER members develop political consciousness and the leadership skills which empowered them as they used direct action campaigns to demand changes in the mental health system. As they found their strength in numbers, I found what has been my passion ever since: helping people with psychiatric disabilities use their voices, individually and collectively, to work towards a mental health system where the reality of recovery is a possibility for everyone.

When Pat began creating CommonGround, we were surprised by the need to transform our little two-person consulting company into a "real" business. At first, I was concerned my work would no longer be as meaningful for me. But as it turns out, what we are doing now has the same objective I’ve been focused on for years: helping consumer/survivors discover and use their voices. CommonGround is a suite of tools that amplify people’s voices as they move into the driver’s seat of their recovery journeys.   

As PDA’s managing partner, I serve as a bridge between our business operations and our development team’s work. I am thrilled to help carry our company’s dream of putting recovery tools in the hands of any and all consumers/survivors who want them.

Allison Stiles, MA, LPC
Director of Technology and Behavioral Health Integration

Hello! I am Allison Stiles and am pleased to be a member of the team here at Pat Deegan Ph.D. & Associates, LLC. I believe in Recovery, and helping to spread the word of Recovery is a dream come true.  My work with PDA harnesses my passion for helping others in a way that can make a real difference in people's lives – by bringing CommonGround to as many people in the mental health community as possible.

As the Director of Technology and Behavioral Health Integration, I work with our development team to create the tools and resources embedded within the CommonGround/RecoveryLibrary software and ensure that these tools are built upon a sound clinical base.  In addition, I work with our training department to help train and support folks who use CommonGround and RecoveryLibrary and am the company's Compliance Officer.

I have worked in the Mental Health field, since 2002, as a Residential Counselor, Intensive Case Manager, and Crisis Counselor. I hold a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology, and the part-time work I do as a Licensed Professional Counselor feeds forward into my current work with PDA.

Missy Rufo, MS, CPRP
Training and Development Specialist

Hi all! My name is Missy Rufo and I am the Training & Development Specialist for Pat Deegan and Associates. In this role, I help new sites adopt CommonGround and RECOVERYlibrary, and provide existing sites with ongoing training and customer support. I also help the team develop new training materials and consult on new features for PDA technologies.

I bring the unique experience of being on both sides of the CommonGround table. I began using CommonGround in 2010 when the agency I worked at adopted CommonGround. During the implementation, I worked as a CommonGround Champion and served on the leadership team. I have also been certified as a CommonGround Specialist and have helped sites adopt it.

I have first-hand experience in understanding the challenges and the successes associated with using CommonGround and especially enjoy sharing my experiences with everyone I work with. I am passionate about recovery and training which drives me in the work we do here at PDA!

I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2004 and hold a Master’s Degree in Psychology. I am a Board Certified Music Therapist and a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. Outside of my work, my Personal Medicine includes spending time with my family and friends and running (even though I’m slow)!