Welcome. In our sessions, I listen closely and support you as you work through challenges. I help you gain insight into yourself and develop practical psychological skills, so you feel better, have more satisfying family relationships, thrive at work or enjoy retirement, and live in alignment with your values. I enjoy helping people feel less overwhelmed so they can find more meaning in life. I support people struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship stress, adult caretaking, and mid- and later-life transitions. I also work with clients experiencing hoarding, chronic and major health conditions, insomnia, and women's issues. My experience includes directing the career counseling program at Stanford School of Medicine for 10 years.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we’ll start with introductions. Our session is mostly focused on getting to know you, understanding your concerns, and clarifying your therapy goals.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strength is combining deep listening, compassion, thoughtful questioning, and psychological skill building to help clients experience fewer symptoms and greater well-being. We also identify and cultivate your strengths. Using ACT, mindfulness-based therapy, and CBT, I bring warmth, honesty, practicality, and a touch of humor to our sessions.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are people who are ready to engage consistently in therapy so they can feel better and experience more fulfilling lives. I help adults with relationship stress (including with adult children) and mid- and later-life transitions. I support people struggling with health conditions and those who are caregivers for adult children, spouses, or parents. I help women struggling with PMDD, perimenopause, and menopause. My specialties include providing career counseling for people navigating healthcare and other high-pressure careers. I also enjoy helping those who wish to incorporate their religion or spirituality into therapy.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
In my work with ACT, I help clients develop psychological flexibility, which is the ability to stay present, open, and adaptable even when difficult thoughts or emotions arise. I support clients in seeing themselves more clearly, accepting their emotions, stepping back from negativity, clarifying their values, and taking actions that move them toward a fulfilling life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Through CBT, I help clients explore how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another. I support clients in noticing unhelpful thought patterns, challenging negative beliefs, and developing more balanced ways of thinking. By learning practical strategies and coping skills, clients feel more capable in managing life’s challenges and having healthy relationships.
Faith based therapy
For clients who value religion or spirituality, I help them integrate these beliefs into their therapy process.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness helps people live more fully in the present, make intentional choices, and respond to life with calm rather than reactivity. Using Mindfulness-Based Therapy, I help clients become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment -- I then guide them in simple mindfulness practices that can be used in daily life to manage stress and approach life with greater ease.
Strength-Based
I use strengths-based therapy to identify and cultivate a person’s inherent abilities, talents, and resilience. We build on their existing skills, values, and what is already working -- fostering self-efficacy and a more positive worldview. We also see challenging thoughts and behaviors as adaptive responses to pain or trauma rather than as inherent flaws.
1 rating with written reviews
October 24, 2025
Debra has a good balance of listening and asking questions. She shows genuine concern and empathy. Her beautiful warm smile put me at ease from the start.