Debra Chandler, LMSW

Debra Chandler, LMSW, uses a straightforward, client-centered style rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. She aims to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep them stuck. Her manner is warm, down-to-earth, and often gently humorous to put people at ease.

She brings four decades of mental health experience in Michigan to each session. That background means she has worked with many common life struggles and knows how to help people take practical steps forward. Sessions focus on clear goals and small, manageable changes rather than vague promises.

In the room she helps people look at thoughts, feelings, body reactions, and actions together. Mindfulness techniques are used when helpful to slow things down and build awareness. Motivational interviewing supports people who feel stuck or unsure about change.

Debra often focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and body-image issues, and problems with sleep or anger. She also supports people coping with grief, trauma, addictions, caregiver strain, and big life transitions. Her work includes attention to attachment and family-of-origin patterns that shape how people relate.

Practical skills, thoughtful listening, and a collaborative plan are central to her approach. People leave sessions with concrete steps to try between meetings and a clearer sense of what to tackle next. Her goal is to help people build small, steady improvements that add up over time.

How CBT and Mindfulness Work Online

Debra blends cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered and mindfulness approaches to help with everyday problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors, which can reduce anxiety, panic, low mood, and problems with sleep. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase awareness of body and emotion.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences and try approaches that fit your needs. Sessions are collaborative so adjustments can be made over time as progress and priorities become clearer.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for working through emotions and practicing skills with visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in fits a busy day. Live chat and text messaging let people send shorter updates or get ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, and travel schedules while keeping momentum between meetings.