- Years in practice
- 45
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Tennessee
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Depression
About Deborah
Deborah Richardson is an LCSW who brings 45 years of clinical experience to conversations about parenting, stress, and emotional strain. She speaks plainly and listens closely, helping people name what feels hard and take small, useful steps forward. Her style is warm and down-to-earth, with room for humor and real life stories.
Deborah trained at the University of Tennessee and has worked across many settings. She has provided care in inpatient and outpatient programs, nursing homes, group homes, and prisons.
Background and approach
Her background includes 15 years in forensic psychiatry and more than two decades in independent practice. Her approach blends practical skills with acceptance and attachment ideas. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral work, dialectical strategies, and acceptance-based methods to help people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and parenting challenges.
She also draws on client-centered and attachment-based thinking to strengthen relationships and self-understanding. Sessions may include talking, writing, drawing, or simple exercises to practice between meetings. Deborah often uses books, music, or short media examples to open new ways of seeing a problem.
The goal is steady change you can feel in day-to-day life, not just talk in the office. Outside of work she mentions a small Shih Tzu who brightened office visits and the ordinary rhythms of family life. Deborah aims to meet people where they are, acknowledge the hard parts, and help them build practical ways to move forward.
What Deborah works with
Everything Deborah lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Deborah helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Dependent personality
- Family problems
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Deborah lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness 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.
Practical approaches for online parenting support
Deborah often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy in her work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take actions that match their values such as showing up for parenting tasks or making time for self-care. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early bonds shape present relationships and can help parents strengthen connection and respond more calmly to their children.Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Deborah discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods to fit the situation. She often mixes acceptance, cognitive-behavioral tools, and attachment ideas so the plan feels practical and realistic for daily life.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls let people work face-to-face for skill practice and observation. Phone sessions can be easier on low bandwidth days or when being off-camera helps focus. Live chat and text messaging allow short check-ins, reflections after a challenging moment, or ongoing planning between longer sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy parenting schedule and keep momentum between meetings.
Questions people ask about Deborah
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, parenting issues, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue among other concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is plainspoken and client-centered, combining acceptance, attachment, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical ideas to help people find useful, everyday tools.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 45 years of experience and has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, nursing homes, group homes, prisons, forensic psychiatry, and independent practice.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Tennessee and practices with that credential in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be done via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on the therapist's availability.
More therapists for parents in Tennessee
All in Tennessee
Ondria Spivey
LPC-MHSP
Tennessee 24 years in practice
Calm, practical support for stressed parents
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
Brigette DaBiere
LCSW
Tennessee 25 years in practice
Practical support for parenting stress and life challenges
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Anger
Dr. Jessica Hamm
LPC, LPCC
Tennessee 16 years in practice
Compassionate counselor for parenting and life challenges
- Addictions
- Relationship
- Trauma and abuse