About Debra
Debra Pintel Steiner is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing anxiety, depression, relationship strains, and other stressful life challenges. She focuses on one-on-one work with adults and aims to build a trusting connection so clients can share difficult feelings and begin to make changes.
She previously worked for Alameda County Child Protective Services providing family counseling in the child welfare system. That experience shaped her calm approach to strong emotions and complex situations.
Background and approach
She also has experience offering individual therapy to adults with chronic physical health concerns. In sessions she listens closely and reflects back what she hears. She uses client-centered methods to follow each person’s pace and priorities.
Mindfulness techniques are used to help people manage anxiety and sleeping problems in the moment. When trauma or past abuse is part of the story she brings trauma-focused methods into the work. The focus stays practical - reducing symptoms that get in the way of daily life and improving how clients cope with stress and relationships.
She draws on ten years of clinical experience and her California LCSW credential. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging, so people can choose the format that fits their schedule and needs.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-centered therapy means the therapist follows the client's lead and focuses on what matters most to that person. Online sessions let the conversation shape itself around current needs, whether that means talking through relationship stress or problem-solving daily routines.Mindfulness therapy uses simple attention and breathing practices to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. In video or phone sessions she can guide brief exercises and help clients notice what calms their body and mind between meetings.
Trauma-focused work attends to past hurts and their ongoing effects. Online formats support this work by allowing gradual pacing, checking in more often by message, and choosing shorter or longer sessions depending on how a person is coping.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. She collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and comfort level. That might mean trying mindfulness first, then adding trauma-focused techniques as needed.
Online therapy offers practical benefits like flexible scheduling and easier access from different locations. Video calls are good for face-to-face interaction, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text messaging suit quick check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around busy lives.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English
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