DK Portrait of Debra Kearse-Thomas

Debra Kearse-Thomas, LCSW

Compassionate, practical support for anxiety and stress

12 years in practice · based in New York · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Debra

Debra Kearse-Thomas is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping people manage anxiety and stress. She uses straightforward, goal-focused methods to help clients build skills for calmer days. Her approach aims to boost confidence and mood through practical steps.

Debra brings 12 years of experience working with concerns like anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, and motivation. She centers conversations on what matters most to each person and adapts the plan as progress unfolds.

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Background and approach

Sessions tend to emphasize simple, usable tools rather than long explanations. She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. In sessions she will help identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try small behavior changes to test new ways of coping.

This gives clients ways to notice progress between meetings. Debra also addresses themes of self-love and women’s issues when they come up in work together. She aims to create a respectful, compassionate space for exploring those concerns.

The focus is on practical changes that fit daily life. She tailors the pace and topics to fit each person’s needs. Debra encourages small, measurable steps and checks in often about what is or isn’t working.

Her goal is to support steady, realistic improvement over time.

How CBT and online sessions work together

Debra uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change the thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety and stress active. CBT focuses on practical exercises and short experiments you can try between sessions to see what helps. This approach is often used to address worry, low self-esteem, anger patterns, and motivation problems.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work with clients to choose which techniques to try first based on individual goals and daily life. Progress is tracked together and the plan is adjusted when something isn’t working or when new needs appear.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different schedules and preferences. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for skill practice and feedback, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a lunch break. Live chat or text works well for quick check-ins, ongoing support, or short exercises when time is limited. These options make it easier to keep regular appointments and apply CBT tools in real life.
Book with Debra Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What issues does Debra commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, motivation, self-love, and women’s issues.
What is her general therapy style?
She uses a practical, conversational style with an emphasis on goal-focused tools and skill building.
How long has she been practicing?
Debra has 12 years of professional experience providing mental health support.
What credentials does she hold and where is she located?
She is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - and practices in New York.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
How are costs handled and how do I begin?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
12 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English

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