Debra Abbey, LPC

Debra Abbey is a Licensed Professional Counselor who transitioned into therapy after a first career in public safety and now brings six years of focused clinical experience to her work. She has developed a diverse clinical background that includes time in an intensive outpatient program, frontline mobile crisis response during the COVID pandemic, and supervision of services for children and families in a school-based health center.

Debra holds certification as an ADHD clinical services provider, reflecting specialized preparation to support clients navigating attention and executive function challenges. She is particularly skilled at working with young adolescents and their families, addressing issues that range from parenting and blended-family dynamics to stress, anxiety, self-esteem, and communication difficulties.

As an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor - Debra has the training and state licensure to provide therapeutic care and clinical support. Her experience also encompasses caregiver stress, first responder concerns, impulsivity and control issues, panic attacks, and social anxiety. Debra approaches each case with attention to practical strategies and family-centered solutions, aiming to help clients clarify goals and build skills that fit their everyday lives.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Debra uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to each client. One common approach she employs focuses on practical skills training - teaching concrete strategies for managing anxiety, panic symptoms, and impulsivity, and building routines that support attention and emotional regulation for those with ADHD. These skills can help clients handle everyday stressors and improve day-to-day functioning.

She also emphasizes family-focused interventions that help parents and caregivers strengthen communication, address blended family dynamics, and resolve conflicts. These interventions involve working with caregivers and adolescents together to improve problem solving, set clear expectations, and rebuild trust after periods of stress.

Finding the right mix of techniques is a collaborative process. Debra will work with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust methods as progress is made to ensure the approach fits the person and their family context.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter check-ins or ongoing support can occur via live chat or text-based messaging. This range of options makes it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to maintain continuity of care despite geographic or time constraints.