About Debbie
Debbie Hayes is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois who offers compassionate, nonjudgmental support for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strains, grief, addictions, and other complex life challenges.
Background and approach
With a decade of experience that includes work as a caseworker and counselor, she tailors conversations and treatment to each person’s concerns and goals. Debbie combines practical skills with a warm, interactive manner to help clients explore patterns and build coping strategies.
Her clinical toolkit draws on evidence-informed methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Client-Centered practices, and Existential Therapy. She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and a strengths-based stance, and adapts session content to reflect individual needs.
Debbie also incorporates faith-based perspectives when requested, blending Christian-oriented guidance with therapeutic techniques to support those who prefer that approach. She maintains continuing education to stay current with research and best practices, aiming to provide informed, personalized care.
Approaches for Change in Online Therapy
Debbie draws on several structured methods that translate well to remote work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values, accepting difficult thoughts and feelings, and committing to action that aligns with what matters most; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and modify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors through practical exercises and skill-building, which can be effective for anxiety, mood concerns, and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) emphasizes understanding and reshaping emotional responses and relational patterns, making it helpful for people dealing with relationship and attachment issues.Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and how different approaches might be used together, adjusting methods as therapy progresses to suit each client’s needs.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing people to access sessions around work and life demands. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, practice skills between sessions, and receive timely support while balancing other responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English