- 40 years experience
- Client-centered methods
- Focus on relationships
About Debbie
Debbie Chirikos is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of experience helping people untangle patterns that keep them stuck. She focuses on practical change and listens closely to what matters most to each person. Her approach suits people ready to do honest work and try new ways of handling old problems.
Debbie earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from universities in Colorado. She has practiced in multiple states, including Hawaii and in Canada, and has long favored ongoing learning to keep her skills current. That breadth of experience informs how she responds to stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma-related concerns.
In sessions she pays careful attention to attachment and relationship patterns. She uses client-centered methods to follow a person’s priorities, and draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to test beliefs and change unhelpful behaviors. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing techniques are mixed in when they fit the person’s goals and pace.
Debbie often works with people facing family and parenting strain, codependency, adoption and foster care questions, caregiver stress, and problems rooted in family of origin. She also supports those coping with career transitions, sleep problems, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Her style is direct and nonjudgmental but warm, and she uses humor when it helps. She describes therapy as a partnership where the client’s own strengths guide change. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Attachment-based work focuses on how early bonds shape current relationships. Online sessions can be used to talk through attachment patterns, practice different responses, and notice how relationships show up now. Client-centered therapy puts the person’s priorities first and follows their lead; virtually this means conversations start where the person is and move at their pace. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and tests small changes; online sessions can guide practical exercises and homework between meetings.Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. The therapist partners with each person to choose what fits their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice is revisited as progress is made and circumstances change, so treatment stays relevant and useful.
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter or more frequent check-ins when needed. It also supports continuing care through life transitions and can help people practice new skills in the settings where they live and work.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, and sleep problems, among other issues listed in her specialties.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her work combines attachment-based and client-centered methods with cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing when appropriate. The style is attentive, practical, and often direct.
How much experience does she bring?
She has 40 years as a clinical social worker, with practice across multiple U.S. states, Hawaii, and in Canada, and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She practices in Illinois and holds an LCSW license in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist’s availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.