Debra "Debbie" Briggs, LMHC

Debra "Debbie" Briggs is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem struggles, life transitions, and ADHD. She speaks English and Spanish and brings 14 years of experience to sessions. Debbie aims to make the first step feel manageable for someone who is worried or overwhelmed.

Debbie uses straightforward, practical methods in session. She listens first and helps people name what matters most to them. Together they set small, achievable goals and try techniques that fit each person's daily life.

Her approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy with client-centered care and mindfulness tools. She also incorporates trauma-focused methods such as EMDR when trauma or past abuse is part of the story. Solution-focused techniques are used to build immediate coping skills and momentum.

Debbie pays attention to family of origin issues, attachment concerns, and patterns like codependency or impulsivity. She supports people dealing with adoption and foster care questions, caregiver stress, fertility-related strain, and women's issues. Post-traumatic stress and sexual assault recovery are also areas she addresses.

Sessions are meant to be collaborative and practical. Debbie treats each person as the expert on their life and helps them use existing strengths to move forward. Her style is warm, direct, and goal-oriented.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Debbie often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes that reduce anxiety and improve mood. CBT can be useful for stress, ADHD challenges, and managing daily routines.

She also practices client-centered therapy, which focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship. That approach helps people feel heard and choose goals that fit their values. When trauma is central, she draws from EMDR-informed, trauma-focused work to address distressing memories and symptoms.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Debbie will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences, and then recommend strategies to try. Together they review what helps and adapt methods over time.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls let people work face-to-face from another location, phone sessions can be a simpler way to check in, and live chat or text-based messaging supports shorter or more frequent contact between sessions. These options give flexibility for different schedules, energy levels, and day-to-day demands.