An independent directory. Not a crisis service.

Need help now?

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Deborah Gleason

Deborah Gleason

LICSW, LCSW · Alabama

Compassionate therapist for life transitions

Continue with Deborah

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

  • Values-focused work
  • Body aware approaches
  • Practical coping skills

About Deborah

Deborah Gleason, LICSW, LCSW, welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, life changes, grief, identity questions, or relationship pain. She presents a calm, steady presence and helps clients notice what they feel inside. Sessions are focused on understanding day-to-day struggles and finding practical ways forward.

Deborah draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered work, cognitive behavioral methods, Jungian ideas, and mindfulness. She often encourages awareness of bodily sensations alongside talk therapy. This can help when feelings are hard to name or when stress shows up as tension, sleep problems, or changes in appetite.

Her practice emphasizes slowing down and learning to notice internal signals. She supports clients in spotting unhelpful patterns, trying small changes, and practicing skills between sessions. The tone of sessions is warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative, with a focus on real-life problems and manageable steps.

Deborah has nine years of clinical experience and holds LICSW and LCSW credentials in Alabama and Illinois. She has worked with people facing anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship challenges, LGBTQ concerns, self-esteem issues, and major life transitions. She has also supported adolescents in group home settings.

People often come to her when they want to feel more grounded, improve how they handle stress, or reconnect with their values. She encourages curiosity about inner experience and helps clients develop tools for coping and growth. If adoption and foster care questions are part of your story, she lists that as a focus area and can include it in sessions when relevant.

How therapeutic approaches work in online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name what matters to them and take small actions that fit those values. It often uses simple exercises and short behavioral experiments to reduce avoidance and increase meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small behavioral changes. It is practical and often includes homework to practice new skills between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to your goals and preferences and suggest methods that fit your needs. This is collaborative; you can try techniques and adjust them based on what helps.

The biography does not specify which online formats are offered, so confirm available session types before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people work with a licensed professional in Alabama even if they live elsewhere, subject to licensing and the platform's rules.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Jungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

9+ years

Credentials

Alabama, Illinois

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship issues, grief, addiction, parenting strain, self-esteem, ADHD, and many related concerns including adoption and foster care topics.

What is her therapeutic style like?

The approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Sessions combine talk therapy, mindfulness, and attention to bodily experience to help clients manage daily life.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has nine years of clinical experience working in settings that include support for anxiety, trauma, identity concerns, and adolescents in group homes.

What credentials and region apply to her practice?

She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials and practices in Alabama, with credential listings for both Alabama and Illinois as LICSW and LCSW respectively.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English, and she also accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options with the platform before booking.

How is cost handled for sessions?

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?

Select the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Back to all therapists

Deborah GleasonOnline therapy options on BetterHelp

Continue with Deborah