Deborah "Debbie" Kirby, LCSW

Deborah "Debbie" Kirby is a licensed clinical social worker with 24 years of experience. She practices in Oregon and offers professional-level therapy and executive coaching to help people manage work and life challenges. Debbie aims to make the first step easier for people who feel uncertain about starting therapy.

Her approach is warm and straightforward. She creates an open space where people can say what they are feeling without judgment. Sessions focus on practical ways to sort through stress, anxiety, grief, career questions, parenting concerns, and other life changes.

Debbie draws on several evidence-informed approaches to tailor work to each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and commit to meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thinking and build new coping skills.

She also brings attachment-based and client-centered ideas into the room to strengthen relationships with self and others. Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools can be introduced when emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills are needed. Therapy conversations are collaborative and paced to what the person finds useful.

People who choose Debbie often want clear, practical steps along with space to talk. She also has experience with topics such as trauma and abuse, LGBT issues, eating concerns, compassion fatigue, adoption and foster care, blended family issues, and first responder stress. The work moves at a steady, respectful pace guided by client goals.

How her approaches guide online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people focus on what matters most and take small, meaningful steps even when feelings are difficult. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and decisions about work or life direction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and teaches skills to change unhelpful patterns. This approach is often used for anxiety, grief, and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Debbie will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people join from locations that are convenient for them, which helps keep therapy consistent with daily life.