Deborah "Debbie" Kirby, LCSW - Therapist in Oregon

Grief and loss
Career coaching
Stress and anxiety

About Deborah

Deborah "Debbie" Kirby is an LCSW who has practiced in Oregon for 24 years. She brings long experience working with people who are under stress, facing grief, or navigating major life changes. Debbie also supports those wrestling with career choices, compassion fatigue, and trauma-related concerns. She aims to make the therapy space open and nonjudgmental. Sessions invite honest talk about feelings and thoughts so a person can sort through what matters most. Debbie also uses coaching techniques for people looking for clearer steps at work or in life transitions. Her approach mixes practical skill-building with attention to relationships and meaning. That can look like learning tools to manage anxiety, talking through patterns that came from family of origin, or mapping values to everyday choices. She also brings experience with issues related to adoption and foster care, blended family concerns, fertility, and first responder stresses. Debbie lists several therapy methods she draws on, including cognitive behavioral approaches and acceptance-based tools. She works with people facing eating concerns, codependency, hoarding, infidelity, and life-purpose questions. Hospice and end-of-life counseling are also part of her focus areas. Starting therapy usually begins with a short matching step and scheduling. Debbie encourages people to take the first step and will help set manageable goals at the pace that feels right.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety GriefCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoaching

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 issues Workplace issues Young 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

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions that match those values, which can help with grief, anxiety, and life-direction questions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It includes practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, useful for anxiety, stress, and coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to pick methods that match needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process may blend approaches over time as progress and priorities become clearer.

Confirm current online session options before booking since specific formats are not listed in the biography. Many people find online work helps fit therapy into a busy week, makes follow-up sessions easier to schedule, and can allow shorter check-ins when needed. Online work also removes travel time and can make consistent appointments simpler to keep while managing everyday responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, career questions, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas include trauma and abuse, eating concerns, parenting stresses, and hospice and end-of-life counseling.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is open and nonjudgmental with a practical focus. She combines talk-based reflection with tools to manage emotions and make clear choices.

What is her professional background?

She has 24 years of experience working as a clinician and uses coaching skills for executive and professional concerns. That experience informs her clinical and coaching work.

Where is she based and what credential does she hold?

She is licensed in Oregon and holds an LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Does she offer services in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

Confirm the current session options before booking since the biography does not list specific formats. The therapist's scheduling is handled through the platform process.

How are fees and payments handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm pricing details during the matching process.

How do I begin working with her?

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

Back to all therapists