Debra Fitzgerald, LPC-MHSP

Debra Fitzgerald is a licensed professional counselor with more than 22 years of experience in Tennessee. She helps people facing anxiety, stress, grief, relationship strain, and issues with substance use. Debra focuses on practical steps that people can try between sessions. She uses clear, direct talk and steady support to make hard problems feel more manageable.

Clients come for help with depression, panic attacks, low self-esteem, and life transitions like midlife change or caregiver strain. She also supports concerns around body image, eating and food-related issues, and process addictions such as gambling or compulsive exercise. Debra pays attention to how daily routines and relationships affect mood and coping.

Her approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered work. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and then practice different ways of thinking and acting. She also listens closely and adapts sessions to each person’s pace and needs.

For relationship concerns she draws on the Gottman Method to address communication patterns and rebuild trust. When grief or hospice-related issues are present, she offers focused support for meaning and adjustment. Sessions emphasize concrete skills, small experiments, and steady progress.

Debra welcomes people from many backgrounds and aims to reduce isolation and increase practical coping. She explains options clearly and helps set realistic, achievable goals. People who prefer straightforward feedback and hands-on tools often find her style helpful.

How Debra Uses CBT, Client-Centered Work, and Gottman Online

Debra uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT often focuses on small, doable exercises that reduce anxiety and improve mood over time.

She also practices client-centered therapy, which means listening closely and following the person’s lead. That approach helps people feel heard and shapes treatment around their own goals and values.

For relationship and communication issues she incorporates elements of the Gottman Method to address patterns that create conflict. This work emphasizes clearer communication and rebuilding connection step by step.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Debra works collaboratively to match methods to a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. She will discuss options and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction and guided exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Chat or text messaging can work well for brief check-ins or routine skill practice. These options make scheduling more flexible and let therapy fit into work and family life.