- Forty years experience
- Attachment-informed care
- Adoption and foster focus
About Debbie
Debbie Chirikos is an LCSW with 40 years of clinical social work experience. She chose counseling as a career and brings steady focus and warmth to sessions. She aims to help people resolve painful patterns and build more confidence and calm in daily life.
Debbie uses a mix of practical talking and active listening. She pays close attention to what clients bring and asks direct, nonjudgmental questions. Her approach suits people willing to do the hard work of change and open to honest feedback paired with patience and occasional humor.
Her background includes a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from universities in Colorado. Over four decades she has practiced in multiple U.S. states, Hawaii, and Canada, keeping her skills current and responsive to social shifts.
In sessions she helps people talk through stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship problems, parenting concerns, and issues tied to adoption and foster care. She also assists those coping with trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, ADHD, sleep difficulties, and career transitions.
Debbie leans on approaches such as attachment-based work, client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. She aims to be a steady partner who listens, reflects, and helps clients try new ways of thinking and behaving. Her goal is to help people nurture their own capacity to solve problems and move toward a more authentic life.
How her approaches translate to online work
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how relationships shape feelings and trust. In practical terms, this work pays attention to patterns of closeness and distance and helps people try new ways of connecting and relating. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening and responding to what the client says. It helps people find their own answers through a nonjudgmental, respectful dialog. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches concrete skills to shift them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and sleeping difficulties.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions can include experimenting with new thinking, building small behavior changes, and practicing mindful awareness together.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier and help sessions fit into a busy life. It can also allow shorter check-ins when a quick appointment is useful, or conversational sessions that focus on problem-solving without the need to travel. Licensed professionals adapt these approaches to whatever format is arranged to help clients make steady progress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and parenting concerns, and issues related to adoption and foster care. Other areas include trauma and abuse, ADHD, sleep problems, and career or life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is attentive and direct. She combines client-centered listening with practical cognitive and mindfulness techniques, offering honest feedback and occasional humor.
What is her professional background?
She has worked as a clinical social worker for 40 years and has practiced in multiple U.S. states, Hawaii, and Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices from Illinois as noted in her profile.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.