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LCPC, LPC

Debra Schwarze, LCPC, LPC

  • Experience30 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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About Debra

Debra Schwarze is a licensed counselor with LCPC and LPC credentials who brings 30 years of experience to work with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep difficulties, self-esteem struggles, career issues, bipolar disorder, and coaching needs.

Background and approach

She also attends to issues related to cancer, caregiver stress, divorce and separation, end-of-life and hospice counseling, infidelity, isolation, life purpose, mood disorders, OCD and panic, and women's issues. Debra’s training includes master’s level work in counseling and art therapy, and she draws on a wide range of therapeutic tools to meet each person where they are.

Her style is collaborative and rooted in client-centered values, with clear use of cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, and EMDR when appropriate. She often adapts expressive methods such as art-making for clients who find visual or creative work helps them name experiences that are difficult to put into words.

Debra has worked in community mental health, schools, faith-based programs, health systems, and independent practice across Illinois and Wisconsin, and she frames therapy as a cooperative process focused on practical change and emotional growth.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Debra uses cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR as part of her online toolkit. CBT involves identifying patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to distress and practicing practical strategies to change them, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and many mood concerns. EMDR is a structured approach that supports processing of distressing memories and trauma-related symptoms through guided bilateral stimulation and targeted processing when it fits a client’s needs.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She works with each person to explore which methods feel most useful given their goals, symptoms, and preferences, and adjusts techniques over time rather than applying a single method from the start.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, allow continuity of care when in-person visits aren’t possible, and support different communication preferences so clients can choose the way of working that feels most comfortable for them.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Debra address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, ADHD, mood disorders, trauma, relationship and family issues, sleep problems, self-esteem challenges, career concerns, and other related areas.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach and style?
Her work is collaborative and client-centered, combining cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, EMDR when appropriate, and expressive art techniques to match each person’s needs.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has three decades of experience in mental health settings including community mental health, schools, faith-based programs, health systems, and independent practice.
Which credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She holds LCPC and LPC credentials with IL LCPC 180-005252 and WI LPC 7605-125 and practices from Illinois.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working together?
Appointments can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to availability.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session based on the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyGriefDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

CancerCaregiver issues and stressDivorce and separationEmptinessForgivenessHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness Therapy

Experience

30+ years

Licensed

Illinois, Wisconsin

Languages

English

What Debra can help with

Debra Schwarze works with clients on stress and anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue.

Debra works with individuals with a diagnosis of major depression, bipolar disorder, all type of anxiety disorders, ADHD, life changing events, end of life issues, and cancer.

How Debra approaches therapy

Debra's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness Therapy.

Experience and training

Debra is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing in Illinois.