- Attachment work
- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness methods
About Debbie
Debbie Chirikos is an Illinois LCSW with 40 years of clinical social work experience. She has spent her career as a counselor and continues to bring long-term practice to people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, grief, trauma, and guilt and shame.
She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from universities in Colorado. Over four decades she has practiced in multiple states, including work in Hawaii and Canada, and she keeps learning so her skills stay current.
In sessions she is focused and attentive. She helps people who are willing to look honestly at themselves and do the hard work of change. She uses direct, nonjudgmental feedback and expects clients to try new ways of responding to longtime patterns.
Her approach includes attachment-based work, client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. She describes therapy as collaborative problem-solving where practical steps and reflection happen together.
People who repeat self-defeating behaviors often find her patient and steady. She also makes room for humor when it helps people cope. Her aim is to help clients notice the choices they already have and use them to move toward clearer values and steadier functioning.
How her approaches translate to online work
Attachment-based work helps people look at how early relationships shape current responses. It focuses on understanding connection patterns and rebuilding steadier ways of relating. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. She will talk with each person about goals and preferences and suggest methods that fit those aims. Decisions about techniques and pacing are made collaboratively rather than imposed.
Confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as the biography does not list specific online options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also let people use strategies learned in session in their everyday settings, which can help translate insights into daily habits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship problems, parenting and family concerns, and guilt and shame among other issues.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is focused and attentive with direct, nonjudgmental feedback. She uses practical techniques and reflective conversation to address patterns.
How much experience does she bring to sessions?
She has 40 years of clinical social work experience and has practiced in multiple states as well as in Hawaii and Canada.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and provides services from that state.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with people outside the United States?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions arranged and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.