Debra Shelton, LPC, LMHC

Debra Shelton is a licensed therapist with 22 years of experience who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, relationship strain, depression, trauma and grief. She welcomes people who feel stuck and want practical steps toward a more satisfying life. Debra writes plainly and works in an approachable, down-to-earth way.

Her style is interactive, direct, and respectful. Sessions focus on identifying concrete problems and trying simple skills that can make daily life easier. She asks questions, listens, and offers tools drawn from several therapy approaches so clients can find what fits their needs.

Debra blends cognitive behavioral techniques with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered ideas. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns, clarify what matters to them, and practice small changes that align with their goals. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing also appear in her work when they suit the situation.

Her background includes long-term clinical practice across multiple states and experience helping people recover after emotional abuse. She supports people working through family and relationship problems, caregiver stress, grief, sleep difficulties, low self-esteem, and compassion fatigue.

Sessions aim to build practical problem-solving skills and new perspectives. Debra encourages trying different strategies in daily life and adjusting the plan as progress is made. If someone is ready to take a step toward change, she offers guidance and steady support.

How therapy approaches shape online sessions

Debra often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. ACT supports coping with anxiety, grief, and life changes by teaching practical actions rather than focusing only on feelings.

She also draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns. CBT offers concrete tools for managing anxiety, sleep problems, and low mood by practicing new thinking and behavior habits in everyday life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Debra will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That process includes trying techniques and adjusting them based on what helps most.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Many people appreciate online therapy because it can fit into busy schedules, cut down travel time, and make regular check-ins easier to maintain. Some formats also allow shorter phone or message check-ins when needed, or video sessions that support face-to-face conversation when preferred.