About Debra
Debra Schwarze helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with trauma, compassion fatigue, sleep problems, self-esteem issues, ADHD, and mood disorders. Debra has particular experience with cancer, caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and relationship strains.
She is identified as an approachable, steady clinician from Illinois with three decades of experience. Debra holds master’s degrees in counseling and art therapy and uses a blend of practical methods in sessions.
How Debra works
She focuses on what matters most to each person and follows the client’s lead while offering tools that fit daily life. Conversations are straightforward and aimed at building coping skills, shifting thought patterns, and easing overwhelming emotions. She commonly uses client-centered work to create space for people to be heard.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is used to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. When trauma is part of the story, she may include EMDR techniques to reduce the intensity of painful memories. Mindfulness practices are woven into many sessions to help with anxiety, panic, and sleep.
Debra also draws on art therapy methods when a person wants a different way to express feelings that are hard to say out loud. Sessions are paced to match each person’s comfort and goals. Over 30 years in community mental health, schools, faith-based settings, health systems, and independent practice have shaped her flexible approach.
Debra aims to help people make manageable changes and feel more capable in daily life.
Debra lists 4 ways of working on the entry:
What Debra works with
The areas below are the ones Debra selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Training and background
| Registers | LCPC, LPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 30 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Therapeutic approaches for online healing
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's priorities. The therapist provides a steady, nonjudgmental presence while helping the person clarify goals and make choices that feel right for them.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, works on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It offers straightforward tools to reduce anxiety, manage depression, and change patterns that get in the way of daily functioning.
EMDR can be used when past events continue to cause strong reactions. In sessions it may help reduce the intensity of distressing memories so they interfere less with work, sleep, and relationships.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit those priorities. Adjustments are made over time based on what is helpful.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth work and visual cues, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is low, and text options allow brief check-ins or notes between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week and keep momentum between meetings.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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