- Warm and down-to-earth
- Mindful and action oriented
- Focus on sleep and rest
About Debra
Debra Chandler is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) who brings 40 years of experience to her work. She practices in Michigan and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, sleep and relationship concerns. Her style is warm, down-to-earth, and straightforward, with a gentle sense of humor to ease difficult conversations.
She creates an open, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and behaviors. Sessions are collaborative; the person sets goals and Debra helps shape steps to reach them. She values practical tools alongside self-reflection so progress can show up in day-to-day life.
Debra blends client-centered methods with cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. That mix is used to address mood problems, eating and body-image concerns, addictions, and struggles with self-esteem. Sleep and rest difficulties are included among the issues she helps people work on.
Her approach pays attention to how past relationships and attachment patterns influence current problems. She also supports people coping with grief, trauma, caregiver stress, and major life transitions. Conversations may include exploring family of origin patterns, forgiveness, and managing intense emotions like anger or panic.
Debra invites a practical, paced process. She will help identify small changes to try between sessions and check what is working. The tone is respectful and steady, aimed at making progress feel possible even when situations feel overwhelming.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person without judgment, helping them feel heard and respected while they set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete techniques to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, mood problems, and sleep difficulties.Choosing an approach is a team effort. Debra works with each person to decide what fits best based on current needs, goals, and preferences. That decision can shift over time as progress and challenges become clearer.
Please confirm which session formats are available before booking, as the biography does not specify them. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also make it simpler to use mindfulness exercises, behavior tracking, and written homework between meetings so therapeutic tools are easier to practice day to day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Debra help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and body-image problems, addictions, grief, trauma, parenting strain, and mood disorders including bipolar.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative, combining cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to create practical steps alongside self-reflection.
What is her background and experience?
She has been working in mental health since 1979, bringing four decades of experience to her clinical work.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and practices in Michigan.
Can people meet with her in other languages or from other countries?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available for meetings with her.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.