- Person-centered care
- Practical tools
- Child welfare experience
About Deborah
Deborah Sterling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, ADHD, and issues related to self-esteem and compassion fatigue. She also supports people navigating adoption and foster care, divorce and separation, non-monogamous relationships, and self-love.
Deborah takes a straightforward, supportive approach in sessions. She centers conversations on the person in front of her and listens without judgment. Sessions are practical and goal-oriented when helpful, and gentle and exploratory when that fits better. People leave with clearer next steps and skills they can try between meetings.
Her background includes a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino. She holds the LCSW credential in California. Prior to private practice she spent over 20 years working with children and families connected to the foster care system, and she has experience providing therapy to teens and adults.
Therapeutic methods include Client-Centered Therapy alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. Deborah adapts these approaches to each person’s needs, using talk therapy and practical strategies when they are useful. She emphasizes collaboration and straightforward tools for coping with life changes.
With three years in her current clinical role as an LCSW, she blends long-term child welfare experience with more recent outpatient practice. Prospective clients are encouraged to describe their main concern and goals when they reach out so sessions can begin with a clear focus.
How these approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following each person’s lead. The therapist offers empathy, reflects what she hears, and helps people find their own solutions to stress, relationship issues, or self-esteem concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It introduces simple exercises and coping skills that help manage anxiety, depression, ADHD-related challenges, and negative thought patterns.
Solution-Focused Therapy targets practical change by setting small, achievable goals. This approach suits people who want concrete steps to handle parenting stress, relationship questions, or life transitions.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about goals and preferences, then try methods that fit those aims. Adjustments are made over time based on what helps most.
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people use techniques introduced in session immediately in their daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Deborah commonly address?
She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, grief, ADHD, and issues around self-esteem and compassion fatigue. She also supports concerns related to adoption and foster care, divorce and separation, and non-monogamous relationships.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She practices supportive, person-centered therapy that balances listening with practical strategy. Sessions may be conversational or goal-focused depending on what each person needs.
What professional background does she bring?
Deborah earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino and spent over 20 years in child welfare work before moving into clinical practice with teens and adults.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds the LCSW credential in California and practices there.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with Deborah?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.