Debbie Hayes, LCPC

Debbie Hayes is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois with ten years of combined experience as a caseworker and counselor. She offers a calm, nonjudgmental presence for people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship strain, and other concerns. Debbie uses straightforward conversation to help people clarify goals and take practical steps forward.

Her style is warm and interactive and aims to meet each person where they are. She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with client-centered and emotionally focused ideas to shape sessions around a person’s needs. Debbie listens for strengths and builds on them while also addressing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.

She has worked with a wide range of issues including addiction, bipolar disorder, trauma, eating concerns, parenting strain, and body image. Additional focus areas include attachment and commitment concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and communication problems. Debbie also supports people dealing with aging or cancer-related challenges.

Debbie continues professional learning to stay current with approaches that help people make real changes. She is open to integrating Christian-based perspectives when clients want that included in their work. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to short-term goals or longer-term exploration depending on what the client needs.

People who want clear, practical steps alongside empathy may find her approach helpful. She aims to support clients as they take small, manageable steps toward more satisfying daily life.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Debbie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and problem focused, and it can help with anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills you can use between sessions.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people accept difficult feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed action. ACT can be useful for people struggling with avoidance, chronic worry, or persistent pain. Client-Centered Therapy is another influence - it emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client’s lead and supports their own problem solving.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Debbie will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That shared decision making helps keep sessions practical and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation and screen-sharing of worksheets. Phone can be lighter on bandwidth and easier during busy days. Live chat and text messaging suit brief check-ins, symptom tracking, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life and keep continuity across weeks.