Deborah Petry, LCSW

Deborah Petry, LCSW, helps people facing relationship strain, addiction concerns, intimacy issues, and parenting stress. She emphasizes clear goals and practical steps so clients can see progress. Her tone is calm and direct, and she works at a pace that fits each person's needs.

Deborah uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered methods, and tools from the Gottman approach when working with relationship concerns. Sessions focus on identifying patterns, trying new behaviors, and practicing skills between meetings. She pairs goal-oriented techniques with listening to understand each person's values and priorities.

Her work addresses co-occurring issues such as mood or personality concerns alongside addiction and relationship problems. Common topics include communication breakdowns, codependency, infidelity, separation, and family of origin issues. She helps people sort through these layered problems and pick clear, manageable next steps.

Deborah brings 16 years as a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut to her practice. She prefers straightforward language and practical tools over clinical jargon. Many clients use homework and short between-session tasks to reinforce what they learn together.

Sessions may include focused behavioral experiments, motivational interviewing conversations for substance concerns, and structured exercises for couples when relevant. The goal is steady, realistic change so clients can move toward healthier relationships and daily functioning.

How Deborah’s Approaches Work Online

Deborah uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that fuel stress or addiction. CBT breaks problems into clear parts so clients can try new responses and track what helps.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on understanding each person’s perspective and goals. That approach prioritizes listening and working at a pace the client prefers, which supports clearer decision making about next steps.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client discuss needs, try techniques, and adjust plans based on what the client finds useful. Deborah aims to match methods to the person’s goals rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online sessions offer flexibility for busy schedules. Video calls allow face-to-face work and exercises that benefit from visual cues. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text-based messaging suit quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity and practice new skills in everyday life.