Deborah "Debbie" Kirby
Supportive LCSW with 24 years experience
LCSW Oregon
- Experience
- 24 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Career
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Deborah
Deborah "Debbie" Kirby brings 24 years of clinical experience as an Oregon-licensed LCSW to her work with adults seeking support for life transitions, stress, anxiety, grief, and related concerns.
Background and approach
Her background includes professional and executive coaching alongside traditional therapy, and she emphasizes a nonjudgmental atmosphere where clients can explore difficult thoughts and feelings. She frames the therapeutic relationship as collaborative, helping people clarify goals and take practical steps toward change.
Kirby uses evidence-informed approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to tailor care to each person's needs. Her practice also addresses issues like parenting, eating concerns, trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, and a range of family and life challenges.
Prospective clients can expect a warm, straightforward style focused on helping them sort through struggles and identify workable strategies. Debbie welcomes those ready to take the first step and guides them through an accessible intake process.
She offers several remote session formats and aims to match therapeutic tools to each client’s priorities and pace.
Practical Approaches for Online Therapy and Change
Debbie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to stress and anxiety, then develop practical skills to shift unhelpful habits. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) complements that work by teaching acceptance of difficult emotions while clarifying values and committed actions toward a meaningful life. Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her toolkit and focuses on how early relational experiences shape current patterns, which can help when addressing relationship dynamics and trust issues.Choosing an approach is a shared process. She works collaboratively with clients to evaluate which methods match their goals, preferences, and the challenges they bring, and she adjusts strategies as progress unfolds. This cooperative stance helps clients feel involved in planning sessions and accountable for steps between meetings.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing people to fit support into busy schedules or to continue care without geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to practice skills between sessions and to maintain continuity during life transitions while working with licensed professionals who tailor tools to each person’s needs.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What is her professional background?
What credentials and location information are available?
Does she offer services in other languages or accept international clients?
What session formats are available for working together?
How is cost handled for therapy with her?
What steps do I take to begin therapy?
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Licensed
Oregon
Languages
English