Debra Schwarze, LCPC, LPC
Illinois · 30 years in practice
Debra Schwarze is a licensed counselor with over 30 years in mental health.
License and registration
- LCPC, Illinois
- 180-005252 · expires March 2027
- LPC, Wisconsin
- 7605-125 · expires February 2027
- NPI
- 1720065063 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 30
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About Debra
Debra Schwarze is a licensed counselor with over 30 years in mental health. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and life changes. Many seek her support for sleep problems, low self-esteem, caregiver strain, and concerns related to mood or attention.
She works in a straightforward, person-centered way. Sessions focus on what matters to the client and move at a practical pace. Debra draws on plain language and small, doable steps so people can try changes between meetings.
Background and approach
Debra uses cognitive behavioral methods to help identify unhelpful thinking and build different behaviors. She also brings in mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment coping. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, often called EMDR, is one of the tools she uses when trauma or painful memories are part of the picture.
Her background spans community mental health, schools, faith-based programs, health systems, and independent practice. She holds master’s degrees in counseling and art therapy and maintains licenses as an Illinois LCPC and a Wisconsin LPC. Debra often incorporates art-making when clients are open to it, using simple creative work to help express things that are hard to say.
She aims to create a calm space for honest conversation and practical change. If someone is ready to begin, she guides them step by step through the process.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Debra lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coaching
- ADHD
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Women's issues
Approaches Debra names
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
Approaches for online healing and trauma work
Debra uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood challenges. She also offers EMDR as a tool when past events or painful memories are keeping someone stuck, using structured processing to reduce the intensity of those memories.Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist talks with each person about goals, past treatment, and comfort with different techniques. Together they decide whether CBT, EMDR, mindfulness, or a mix will best match the client’s needs and preferences.
Online sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care fit into daily life. Video lets people work face to face when helpful, phone can be easier when bandwidth is low, and messaging or live chat can be used for brief check-ins or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options give flexibility for scheduling, reduce travel time, and let people try different formats as their needs change.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Debra help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, self-esteem, career stress, ADHD, bipolar symptoms, and relationship or family-related concerns.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is practical and person-centered. Sessions focus on what the client wants to change and use easy steps to try between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She brings 30 years of experience across community mental health, schools, faith-based settings, health systems, and independent practice.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds a master’s degree in counseling and a master’s in art therapy, and is licensed as an Illinois LCPC and a Wisconsin LPC based in Illinois.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does cost work for therapy?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a therapy relationship?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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