Deborah "Debbie" Kirby , LCSW

Deborah "Debbie" Kirby is a licensed clinical social worker with 24 years of experience. She practices in Oregon and brings clinical work and professional coaching together to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes.

Debbie aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can speak honestly about difficult feelings. She listens first and helps people sort through what matters most to them. Her style is collaborative and straightforward, with an emphasis on practical steps that fit daily life.

Her work often focuses on women's issues such as parenting concerns, fertility and adoption-related stress, and the emotional toll of caregiving and compassion fatigue. She also supports people facing career shifts, relationship hurt, trauma and abuse recovery, and struggles with eating or control issues.

Debbie draws from several evidence-informed approaches to guide sessions. She uses acceptance and commitment strategies to clarify values and build flexibility, cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking and habits, and attachment-based ideas to improve connection and communication.

Clients can expect a mix of talk and concrete skills practice. Sessions may include exploring personal stories, trying new ways to respond to emotions, and setting small goals for change. Her background in coaching means she often integrates goal-setting and practical planning into therapy.

If someone wants to begin, the process starts by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling sessions according to availability.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice their values and take small steps that match those values even when feelings are strong. This can help with anxiety, grief, and life transitions by shifting attention toward meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches practical strategies to change them, which can be useful for stress, eating concerns, and unhelpful habits. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to patterns in relationships and communication and can help people improve connection and reduce repeated relationship hurt.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Sessions often blend elements from different approaches so the plan matches what actually helps the client in daily life.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for full conversation and practicing skills together, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or messaging lets people check in between sessions or use brief coaching-style support. These options make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, and travel while still working with licensed professionals and a clear plan for progress.