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DF Portrait of Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman

Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman

Compassionate, experienced clinician focused on change

LISW Ohio

Experience
32 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Deborah

About Deborah

Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman is an Ohio-licensed social worker with more than three decades of experience supporting people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and LGBT-related concerns.

Background and approach

She draws on a client-centered belief that each person knows their own story and strengths, and she works to empower clients as they take the difficult first steps toward change.

Her practice integrates evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, solution-focused techniques, and trauma-focused work to address challenges such as panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, control issues, and complicated grief. Rachel also brings attention to issues of guilt, shame, forgiveness, isolation, midlife transitions, mood disorders, and the unique needs surrounding hospice and end-of-life counseling.

In addition to clinical practice, she has professional experience training pets and service dogs with a sub-specialty in psychiatric service animals, which complements her practical, strengths-based approach. Rachel aims to create a collaborative partnership that supports clients in identifying realistic goals and building skills for lasting change.

Online Approaches for Practical Change and Healing

Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach tends to be goal-oriented and useful for anxiety, panic, mood concerns, and stress management. She also incorporates Trauma-Focused Therapy to address the effects of traumatic experiences, offering techniques that aim to process painful memories and reduce trauma-related symptoms.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Rachel emphasizes working together with each client to determine which methods fit their needs and preferences, adjusting strategies over time as goals and circumstances evolve. Her client-centered stance means the therapist and client shape the plan jointly rather than following a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Online therapy with her is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it possible to maintain continuity of care across distances and to choose interactions that match a client’s communication style and daily routine.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and LGBT-related concerns, and also focuses on issues such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress, and social anxiety.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is client-centered and strengths-based, combining collaborative support with practical techniques to help clients move toward their goals.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has 32 years of professional experience and balances clinical work with training pets and service dogs, including a sub-specialty in psychiatric service dogs.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is licensed as an LISW in Ohio with the licence number OH LISW I.0007431.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
She provides services in English and does accept international clients.
What session formats are available with this therapist?
Sessions can be scheduled via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How are therapy sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

Additional focus areas

Control issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injury

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

32+ years

Licensed

Ohio

Languages

English