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LCSW

Dr. Debra Sandler, LCSW

  • Experience39 years
  • LocationFlorida
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Debra

Dr. Debra Sandler brings a warm, approachable presence to work with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, ADHD, and a broad range of behavioral and emotional challenges.

Background and approach

With nearly four decades of clinical experience, she helps clients develop practical strategies to manage emotions, reduce reactivity, and navigate life transitions while improving communication and coping skills. Her style is informal yet focused, blending attentive listening with collaborative planning to set achievable goals.

Dr. Sandler uses methods drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, attachment-based work, and client-centered approaches to tailor interventions to each person’s needs.

She emphasizes skill-building for stress, anger, sleep and eating difficulties, impulsivity, and addiction-related issues so clients can handle everyday pressures more effectively. Dr.

Sandler earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, and she holds LCSW licensure in Florida and New Jersey. Based in Florida, she accepts international clients and offers multiple remote session formats to increase accessibility for people balancing busy lives.

Therapeutic Approaches for Remote Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and build willingness to experience difficult thoughts while taking committed action toward meaningful goals, which can be useful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical skills to change behaviors and mood, often applied to depression, anxiety, sleep and eating issues, and impulsivity. Attachment-Based Therapy explores relational patterns and emotional bonds to improve communication and intimacy, supporting work on family of origin issues, relationship concerns, and attachment difficulties.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and past experiences to tailor a blend of methods that fits each person’s needs rather than prescribing a single modality from the outset.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or to connect across distances. These remote options let licensed professionals deliver structured, skills-based work and ongoing support while accommodating different communication preferences and daily routines.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Dr. Sandler works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family problems, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, ADHD, and mood concerns such as bipolar disorder.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is laid back and collaborative, combining empathetic listening with practical planning so clients can learn new ways to cope and improve communication.
What background and experience does she have?
She brings 39 years of clinical experience, including more than thirty years in independent practice, which informs a veteran perspective on chronic and recurring concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LCSW licensed in Florida (FL LCSW SW23130) and New Jersey (NJ LCSW 44SC00188400) and is based in Florida.
Does she work with non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she accepts international clients, allowing people outside her state to access her services.
What session formats are available?
She offers a variety of remote formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How are sessions priced and paid for?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression

Also works with

Trauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

39+ years

Licensed

New Jersey, Florida

Languages

English

About

Dr. Debra Sandler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Florida, with 39 years of experience, not currently accepting new clients.