Debra (Debbie) Shepard, LCSW

Licensed in Illinois · 14 years in practice

Debra (Debbie) Shepard helps people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure what to do next.

License and registration

LCSW, Illinois: 149016627 · expires November 2027
NPI: 1477092328 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 14
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Debra

Debra (Debbie) Shepard helps people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure what to do next. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, based in Illinois and draws on 14 years of experience in behavioral health. Her approach is warm and down-to-earth so people can talk through their immediate concerns without jargon.

Debbie focuses on practical steps for common problems like anxiety, depression, stress, and substance use. She also supports people dealing with relationship strain, parenting pressures, sleep or eating struggles, and major life changes.

Background and approach

Sessions aim to make small changes that add up to real relief. Her style centers on listening first, then building on each person’s strengths. She uses client-centered work to follow what matters most to the individual.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She also draws on mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus. Motivational Interviewing is part of her work when someone needs help finding motivation for change, especially around addiction and lifestyle goals.

Debbie is direct but compassionate in session. She helps people set realistic goals, try new strategies between meetings, and track progress. The focus is on making therapy useful in day-to-day life, not on complicated theory.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Debra lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Relationship issues
Depression
Coping with life changes
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Eating disorders
Sleeping disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Aging and geriatric issues
Body image
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Divorce and separation
Drug and alcohol addiction
Emptiness
Family problems
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Phobias
Pregnancy and childbirth
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-love
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Debra names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approaches that translate well to online care

Client-centered work focuses on listening closely to what matters to the person and shaping sessions around their priorities. This approach helps clarify goals and makes each session feel relevant to daily life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It teaches practical exercises people can use between sessions to reduce anxiety, manage mood, or change unhelpful habits.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone is unsure about change. It uses guided conversation to find personal reasons for change and build motivation, which can be helpful for substance use, lifestyle shifts, or any stuck pattern.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision happens together and can shift as progress is made.

Online formats - video, phone, live chat, and text messaging - make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. Video allows face-to-face interaction, phone calls take less bandwidth, live chat and messaging work for quick check-ins or when typing is easier. These options provide flexibility so people can keep momentum while balancing work, family, and other commitments.

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Questions people ask

What issues does she help with?

She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship difficulties, coping with life changes, trauma and many related concerns such as sleep and eating issues, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, and ADHD.

What is her general therapy style?

Her style is warm, interactive, and practical. She listens first and then works collaboratively to set goals and try tools that fit each person's needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 14 years of experience in behavioral health, including clinical and supervisory roles working with a wide range of concerns.

Where is she licensed to practice?

She holds an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, listed as LCSW, and practices from Illinois.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as ways to connect.

How are fees and payments handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist factors and sessions are provided via a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

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