About Debra
Debra Chandler, LMSW, brings 40 years of clinical experience to her therapy work. She emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship and offers a calm, down-to-earth presence. Her style is collaborative and practical, focused on helping people notice patterns and make manageable changes.
Clients can expect a conversational approach that looks at thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and behaviors. Sessions often include mindfulness practices, discussion of daily habits, and straightforward tools to reduce stress and anxiety.
Background and approach
She also addresses mood concerns, addictive behaviors, and issues around eating and body image. Debra uses elements of client-centered work to build trust, and she blends cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thoughts. Motivational interviewing helps people find internal reasons to change.
This mix lets her tailor sessions to what each person needs in the moment. She has a particular focus on relationship struggles, grief, trauma and abuse, and challenges tied to life transitions. ADHD is one of the areas listed among her focus topics, approached within a broader treatment plan rather than as a standalone service.
Practical strategies for sleep, anger, and coping with burnout or caregiving strain are also common topics. Debra practices in Michigan and conducts sessions in English. She aims to create a steady, compassionate space where people can name problems, try new approaches, and track small gains over time.
How her approaches translate to online care
Client-centered work focuses on listening and building trust. The therapist offers an open, empathic space where people can talk through worries and feel heard. This approach helps with anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns by prioritizing the client’s experience and goals.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and actions and teaches practical skills to change them. Online CBT sessions often include small homework tasks, breathing exercises, and step-by-step plans to manage panic, low mood, or unhelpful thinking patterns.
Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and improve awareness of bodily sensations. These techniques can be used to support eating concerns, sleep difficulties, and everyday reactivity.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques to use based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Plans can be adjusted as progress is seen or new issues come up.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and shared visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging offer brief, flexible ways to check in between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep momentum between appointments.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Eating disorders
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- Michigan
- Languages
- English
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