- Years in practice
- 10
- Credentials
- LCPC
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Debbie
Debbie Hayes is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois with 10 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, parenting challenges, relationship concerns, and related issues. Her manner is warm and respectful, aimed at helping people feel heard and understood from the first session.
Debbie began her career as a caseworker and moved into counseling, bringing practical experience with complicated life situations.
Background and approach
She has worked with people facing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other co-occurring concerns, and has supported those managing chronic illness, career stress, and caregiving demands. Her counseling style blends client-centered listening with evidence-informed techniques. She uses cognitive behavioral strategies to address unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.
She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful action. Debbie integrates emotionally focused and existential ideas when exploring relationships and life purpose. She tailors conversations and plans to each person’s needs rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions.
When requested, she can include Christian-based perspectives alongside other approaches. Sessions can include practical tools, skills practice, and reflective discussion. The goal is to build coping strategies and clearer choices for everyday life.
Debbie emphasizes steady steps and realistic goals so people can notice progress over time.
What Debbie works with
Everything Debbie lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Debbie helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- 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
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Debbie lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that guide online sessions
A key part of her work is cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and practicing tools to change them. CBT is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related patterns.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify what matters to them and take steps toward those values even when uncomfortable feelings are present. ACT is useful for building flexible responses to difficult emotions and for parenting and relationship challenges.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and adjust methods as needed. Clients and the therapist decide together which strategies to try and how to measure progress over time.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skills practice. Phone sessions can be a good short-check-in or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, homework discussion, or ongoing support between sessions. These options make scheduling easier and help therapy fit into busy family and work routines.
Questions people ask about Debbie
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, LGBT concerns, relationship and parenting challenges, eating and body image issues, trauma, bipolar disorder, and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, interactive, and nonjudgmental. She combines client-centered listening with practical techniques such as cognitive behavioral strategies and values-based work.
What background does she bring to sessions?
She has about 10 years of combined experience as a caseworker and counselor, giving her practical experience with complex life situations and long-term challenges.
Where does she practice and what are her credentials?
She is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois and holds the LCPC credential listed in her profile.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available online?
She meets using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.
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