About Debbie
Debbie McCown-Perkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing depression, anxiety, ADHD, grief, and relationship strains. She writes simple, practical guidance and listens closely so clients feel heard. Her manner is warm and direct and she focuses on small steps that make daily life easier.
She trained with a bachelor of science in psychology and a master of social work from Walla Walla University. She has 14 years of experience working with a wide range of concerns, including trauma and abuse, mood disorders, parenting stress, and caregiving burdens.
Background and approach
Her background includes supporting people after physical trauma and emotional abuse. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to each person. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help change unhelpful thinking and on client-centered ideas to follow the client's pace.
Dialectical strategies are used when stronger emotion regulation skills are needed. When past traumatic events are getting in the way, she may incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to help reduce the intensity of memories. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas are used to clarify values and move toward a meaningful life, even when symptoms persist.
Her approach aims to be respectful and nonjudgmental. She helps people set realistic goals and practices concrete skills between sessions. The focus is on what will help day-to-day functioning and long-term coping in a way that fits each person.
How her approaches translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward what matters to them. In online sessions this can mean setting clear values-based goals and practicing short exercises between meetings to build momentum. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that make problems worse and then testing small changes. It works well over video or phone because homework and thought records can be reviewed together and adjusted in real time.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. She reviews goals and preferences with each person and tailors methods collaboratively. Sometimes sessions begin with client-centered listening and then move into CBT or ACT techniques as skills are developed. The client and therapist decide together what feels helpful and practical.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful when visual cues help the conversation, while phone calls can fit a quick check-in or lower bandwidth situations. Live chat and text-based messaging can support brief updates, skill coaching, or when someone needs flexible timing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving schedules while keeping the focus on useful skill building and steady progress.
Questions people ask
What concerns does she address?
What is her therapeutic style?
How long has she practiced?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Can people outside the country work with her?
What session formats are available?
How are fees handled and how do I begin?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Stress, Anxiety
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 14 years
- Licensed
- Colorado
- Languages
- English
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