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Deborah "Debbie" Kirby

Therapist · Oregon

Deborah "Debbie" KirbyLCSW

Experienced LCSW offering steady, practical therapy

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Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.

  • Experience24 years
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • SessionsOnline
  • 24 years experience
  • Oregon based
  • Empathic and direct

About Deborah

Deborah "Debbie" Kirby is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Oregon with 24 years of experience. She offers professional therapy and executive coaching with a straightforward, calm presence. Debbie aims to make the process approachable for people who are anxious about starting therapy.

Her style is warm and nonjudgmental. She works to create an open space where people can talk about hard feelings and practical problems. Sessions focus on sorting through immediate concerns and finding workable next steps.

Debbie uses approaches such as acceptance and commitment methods, attachment-based ideas, client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavior strategies. She adapts these tools to the issue at hand, whether it is stress, anxiety, grief, career questions, or parenting concerns.

Her experience includes coaching professionals and supporting people facing life changes like fertility or adoption challenges, blended family dynamics, and first responder strain. She also has worked with issues such as trauma, eating concerns, codependency, and grief related to hospice and end-of-life situations.

Debbie speaks English and practices in Oregon. Therapy uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule appointments according to therapist availability.

People who are looking for steady, empathic support during transitions often find her straightforward approach helpful. She focuses on listening carefully, clarifying goals, and helping people take practical steps forward.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on what matters to them. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and uses practical steps to change unhelpful patterns; it can help with anxiety, mood, and problem solving. Attachment-Based Therapy centers on understanding close relationships and how earlier bonds affect present reactions, which can be useful for relationship stress and parenting challenges.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. That means trying methods together and adjusting based on what helps you make progress. This collaborative process aims to match tools to your situation rather than insisting on a single path.

For practical matters, confirm the current session options before booking since formats were not specified in the profile. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, scheduling shorter check-ins during a work break, keeping appointments when travel is difficult, or avoiding commute time. Therapists can use the methods above in remote sessions to focus on problem solving, skill-building, and conversational processing tailored to your goals.

License and NPI

  • LCSW Oregon · No. L3454

NPI1235260431

As shown on the therapist's profile. You can check a license with the state board and an NPI with the national registry.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

LGBTTrauma and abuseEating disordersParenting issuesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careBlended family issuesCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Narrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy

Experience

24+ years

Credentials

Oregon

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, grief, career issues, coping with life changes, parenting matters, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, and compassion fatigue.

What is the therapist's general approach in sessions?

The approach is warm and nonjudgmental with practical conversation. Techniques draw from client-centered listening and behavioral strategies to help identify steps forward.

How much experience does the therapist have?

Debbie has 24 years of professional experience providing therapy and executive coaching in clinical settings.

What credential does the therapist hold and where are they located?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in Oregon.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does this therapist work with international clients?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are sessions priced and billed?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and therapy uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

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Deborah "Debbie" KirbyReview online therapy options on BetterHelp.

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