PuttingFamilyFirst

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DG Portrait of Debra Gionet
Online therapist

Debra Gionet

Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions

Credentials
LCSW
Experience
25 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Debra

Debra Gionet is a California licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, self-esteem struggles, relationship concerns, parenting questions, career shifts, and other life changes. Her manner is warm and straightforward.

She aims to help clients find practical steps they can use between sessions. Debra draws on several therapy styles to match each person's needs. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thinking and build new habits.

Background and approach

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps clients accept difficult emotions while taking values-based action. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an option for those with trauma symptoms. Sessions focus on clear goals and concrete skills.

Debra helps people improve communication, set boundaries, and cope with transitions like pregnancy, fertility challenges, or workplace stress. She also addresses issues around body image, codependency, and family of origin patterns. Her approach is collaborative and paced to what a person can manage.

She listens for what matters to each client and then suggests steps to try. Progress often includes short-term coping tools plus longer work on patterns that keep returning. Debra practices in California and holds LCSW, California license number 21514.

Sessions are conducted in English and offered through a range of online formats.

Therapeutic approaches for online care

Debra uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try specific behavioral changes. CBT is useful for anxiety, stress, and improving daily habits. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches ways to accept difficult feelings while taking steps that match personal values. ACT can help with long-term change and making choices that matter. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is offered for people with trauma symptoms and helps process distressing memories in a structured way.

Choosing an approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk about goals, past experience with therapy, and preferences to decide what to try first. Sessions can shift course over time if a different method seems like a better fit.

Online therapy makes these approaches accessible through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. People often find the range of formats helpful for fitting sessions into busy schedules and for maintaining momentum between appointments. Licensed professionals can teach skills, guide in-the-moment practice, and assign short exercises that work with the online format.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Debra commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship questions, parenting challenges, self-esteem problems, career shifts, and coping with life changes. She also addresses attachment, body image, codependency, and related issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
The approach is practical and collaborative. She blends methods like CBT and ACT to teach skills and to help clients take small steps toward their goals.
How long has she been practicing?
Debra has 25 years of professional experience providing psychotherapy in California settings.
What credential and location information should I know?
She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California, license number CA LCSW 21514, and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Next step

Talk to Debra

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