- ACT techniques
- CBT tools
- Attachment ideas
About Deborah
Deborah "Debbie" Kirby is an LCSW licensed in Oregon with 24 years of clinical experience. She has supported people facing stress, anxiety, grief, career shifts, coping with life changes, coaching needs, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, parenting strain, and compassion fatigue. Deborah also works with issues related to adoption and foster care and blended family issues. She offers direct, practical help rather than long theoretical talks.
Her approach is conversational and person-focused. Sessions are a place to talk through what is happening now and learn skills to manage difficult feelings. She uses tools drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help with anxious thinking and getting unstuck. Attachment-based ideas and client-centered work guide how she listens and responds.
Deborah describes work with clients on concrete goals such as communication problems, codependency, control issues, and navigating infertility or end-of-life decisions. She also addresses the fallout from natural or human-caused disasters and first responder stress. These topics are handled in straightforward, step-by-step ways that aim to reduce overwhelm.
People who come to her often want coaching for career transitions, help with family of origin patterns, or guidance after infidelity or loss. She blends talking, practical exercises, and skill-building in sessions. Progress is tracked by changes in day-to-day coping and functioning.
Sessions are conducted in English. Deborah notes that getting started requires a simple matching step and scheduling a first appointment. The focus is on clear next steps and useful strategies rather than lengthy exploration alone.
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting driven by them. It teaches practical exercises to clarify values and take small committed steps toward what matters, which can help with anxiety, stress, and life changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses straightforward techniques such as tracking thinking patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce worry and improve day-to-day functioning.
Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how past and current relationships affect reactions now. It can be useful for people who notice repeated patterns in close relationships or who are trying to adjust to blended household roles.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as progress is made.
If you want to know how sessions are delivered, confirm the current session options before booking. Be ready to discuss which formats fit a regular weekly check-in, a shorter coaching session, or a focused skills meeting. Online sessions can make fitting therapy into work, parenting, or caregiving schedules easier without requiring travel, and they can allow quick follow-up between appointments when that helps move goals forward.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
Oregon
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, career changes, trauma and abuse, eating issues, parenting strain, and compassion fatigue among other areas.
What is her basic therapy style?
Her style is conversational and practical, combining talking with exercises and skill practice drawn from various approaches.
How much experience does she have?
She has 24 years of experience providing professional-level therapy services.
What credential and location does she list?
She is an LCSW licensed in Oregon.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what do costs look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.