Debra Fitzgerald , LPC-MHSP

Debra Fitzgerald is a licensed professional counselor with mental health service provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee and more than 22 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Her tone is down-to-earth and practical, aimed at people who want clear next steps and steady support.

She listens first to understand each person's situation and priorities. Sessions often begin with identifying what feels most urgent and what the client wants to change. Debra uses straightforward tools and conversations to help people reduce panic, manage mood swings, and handle caregiving strain.

Her work includes addressing addictions and process addictions such as gambling or problematic sexual behaviors, as well as drug and alcohol concerns. She also helps people who are coping with grief, cancer-related stress, aging issues, or the emotional impact of hospice and end-of-life care.

Debra offers help with relationship and intimacy-related issues, communication problems, family of origin concerns, and body image or eating-related struggles. She brings long experience supporting people through midlife challenges, career changes, isolation, and low self-esteem.

Sessions use practical approaches drawn from client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral ideas, and the Gottman Method for relationship work. She speaks English and provides online formats including video calls, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules.

Approaches that guide online care

Client-Centered Therapy puts the person and their goals at the center of the work. It focuses on listening, validation, and helping someone find their own solutions for stress, grief, or self-esteem concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, involves identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, panic, and mood symptoms. The Gottman Method offers practical skills for improving communication and reducing conflict in close relationships.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about what feels most important and try methods that fit their goals and comfort level. Adjustments are made over time as progress and preferences become clear.

Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video can support face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone calls work well when bandwidth is limited, and chat or text can provide quick check-ins or brief skill practice between sessions. These options help fit therapy into busy days, caregiving schedules, or times when a shorter check-in is needed.