(she/her)
Welcome. In our sessions, I listen closely and support you as you work through challenges. I help you gain insight and develop practical psychological skills, so you feel less depressed and anxious, have more satisfying family relationships, thrive at work or enjoy retirement, and live in alignment with your values. Through individual therapy, I help clients feel less overwhelmed by midlife and later-life transitions, and I find it deeply rewarding to empower them to discover greater meaning and satisfaction in their lives. I support clients who struggle with relationships, depression, anxiety, grief, adult caretaking responsibilities, and major health conditions. I also help people struggling with OCD and hoarding. My experience includes directing the career counseling program at Stanford School of Medicine for 10 years.
In our first session, we’ll start with introductions. Our session focuses on getting to know each other, learning about what brought you to therapy, and clarifying your therapy goals. I offer a warm, compassionate, nonjudgemental space for you to be yourself.
My greatest strength is combining deep listening, compassion, thoughtful questioning, and psychological skill building to help clients experience fewer symptoms and greater well-being. I enjoy helping clients identify their strengths and find solutions to their problems. Using CBT, mindfulness-based therapy, and ACT, I bring warmth, honesty, practicality, and a touch of humor to our sessions. For clients who value religion or spirituality, I enjoy helping them integrate their beliefs and practices into the therapy process.
My clients are people who are committed to engaging in therapy consistently so they can feel less depressed or anxious and live more fulfilling lives. I help people navigate the challenges that come with aging, including loss, complex family dynamics, career change/retirement, illness, hormonal changes, insomnia, and decreased energy. My goal is to support my clients in feeling as mentally well as possible while moving through these changes with greater ease.
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.
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.
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.
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.