Deborah Gleason

Deborah Gleason is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, anger, trauma, and identity concerns. She uses a calm, curious approach that invites people to notice how their body and emotions show up. Sessions focus on real problems and practical next steps rather than labels or judgment.

Deborah draws on nine years of clinical experience to help people slow down and become more aware of internal experience. She blends talk-based work with mindfulness and attention to bodily signals so that feelings that are hard to name can still be noticed and worked with. This can include grounding practices, brief movement, and simple tools to manage overwhelming moments.

Her style is warm and collaborative. She helps clients identify unhelpful patterns, test new behaviors, and build skills that fit day-to-day life. Goals are set together and adjusted as needs change.

Deborah has worked with a wide range of concerns including relationship strain, grief, addiction issues, sleep and eating difficulties, career stress, ADHD, and bipolar-related challenges. She also supports people facing life transitions, caregiving stress, and identity-related questions.

Based in Alabama and licensed in Illinois as well, she follows approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jungian ideas, and Mindfulness Therapy. Prospective clients complete a short questionnaire to match and then schedule sessions based on availability.

How Deborah’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Deborah uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters and take small steps toward those values. ACT involves noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, and then choosing actions that match a person’s priorities.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes listening, empathy, and working at the client’s pace. That approach focuses on building a trusting relationship and following the client’s lead in sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another tool she uses to identify unhelpful thinking and test new behaviors with concrete exercises and homework between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Deborah will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. This is an ongoing conversation that adapts as progress and challenges emerge.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, or offering sessions that better match someone’s daily schedule. Licensed professionals can use these flexible arrangements to keep therapy practical and focused on real-life changes.