(she/her)
Hi, I'm Debra, and I love being a therapist. It is a privilege to provide support and guidance to people working to better themselves and to connect to others in such a meaningful way. I work with folks ages 12 and up to manage anxiety, depression, and stress as well as develop coping skills and improve self esteem. Counseling is a collaborative process in which a strong therapeutic relationship is vital to successful client outcomes. I am strengths based in practice, meaning YOUR unique attributes and skills are central to eliciting positive changes and facing adversity. Though my default approaches are person centered, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral, I am trained in various evidence based techniques. I am adaptive to the unique and specific needs of each person I serve. I take pride in striving for a high level of cultural competency and believe great value is found in learning about and celebrating diversity.
During first sessions, I start by checking in with clients about any questions they have and how they are feeling about therapy. One of my goals for first meetings is to help clients feel comfortable. I meet clients where they are at, and sometimes people are ready to dive in and talk about presenting concerns. Other times, the focus is more on discussing client background history, general goals for treatment, and what my therapeutic approaches are. I am flexible and adjust to individual client needs, but overall, initial sessions are a time to ensure we connect well.
Others have told me I am extremely empathic, which I agree with. It is important to me to understand exactly where my clients are coming from so I can best provide support and a safe space for exploration, growth, and change. I approach being a therapist with kindness, humor, and drive to understand my clients' unique perspectives and to be able to align with their world view.
I have a diverse caseload in terms of client identity, background, concerns and goals, and do not necessarily have an 'ideal client'. However, I work well with clients who are focused on improving and/or maintaining their mental health, are open-minded, curious, wanting to focus on self-compassion and kindness.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $80 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth
Amerihealth Administrators
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Geisinger - Commercial
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Highmark
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UPMC Health Plan
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT interventions and teach CBT skills to empower clients to be more intentional with their thoughts and behaviors, which in turn help people feel better.
Eclectic
What is successful in therapy for one person may not work for everyone-I draw from a variety of treatment methods to meet the needs of my clients.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Research demonstrates a strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors to clients making progress in therapy and meeting their goals. I want my time with clients to be as beneficial to them as possible, and I also want therapy to be a place where my clients know they are safe and supported. I focus on building a strong and trusting alliance with clients.
8 ratings with written reviews
May 27, 2026
My first session with Debra was. warm and comforting. Debra is a lovely person that left a terrific impression as a caring, genuine, and supportive therapist. I look forward to our next session. Thank you Debra. :) 😊
December 13, 2025
I have been seeing Debra consistently for 3.5 years, and I hope to remain a client of hers for many more. Debra has helped me in countless ways, but my favorite has been her supportive approach to self-compassion. Through the ups and downs of my life, I know I can trust Debra to listen without judgment and help me see things more clearly. She has been a guiding force, enabling me to become the best version of myself. I cannot recommend her enough.
November 5, 2025
Debra made me feel very comfortable and she validated how I was feeling overwhelmed.