Deborah (Debbie) Connery

Deborah (Debbie) Connery is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people in Illinois manage stress, anger, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions. She has over 33 years of experience and aims to make reaching out feel less hard. Her approach begins with listening and building a respectful, caring relationship so people can talk honestly about the problems that brought them here.

Debbie focuses on practical steps that help people move forward. She looks for strengths and small sources of hope that can be built on. Sessions are a collaboration where the person’s goals guide which tools to use and when to try them.

She uses several therapeutic approaches to match the needs of each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered methods, motivational interviewing, solution-focused work, and trauma-focused ideas are among the approaches she draws from. The mix is chosen to fit the presenting issue, not a single fixed recipe.

Debbie has substantial experience with mood and anxiety problems, bipolar disorder, panic and obsessive-compulsive concerns, and issues tied to aging, grief, and end-of-life circumstances. She also supports people dealing with relationship and communication struggles, hoarding, feelings of emptiness, and questions about life purpose.

Her style is patient, direct, and hopeful. She aims to help people find concrete ways to feel better and regain control over daily life. To begin, she asks people to share what matters most and then builds a plan together.

Approaches used in online therapy and how they help

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own priorities and what matters most to them, helping build trust and a sense of being heard. This approach is useful when someone needs space to sort feelings and make decisions about next steps.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change patterns that worsen anxiety, anger, or depression. It is often used for mood disorders, panic, and obsessive-compulsive concerns.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or ambivalent about change by exploring what matters to them and increasing personal motivation to try new behaviors.

Deciding on the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the person to identify goals, test what helps, and adjust methods over time so the work stays relevant and manageable.

Confirm the current session formats before booking, as options are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing sessions during work breaks or from quieter locations. They can also allow shorter check-ins when needed and remove the need to be on camera for every meeting. Licensed professionals aim to match therapy to daily routines so progress can continue between sessions.