- Years in practice
- 30
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Grief
- Focus
- Parenting issues
About Debra
Debra Sarno is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York. She brings 30 years of experience to conversations about stress, anxiety, grief, parenting, and life transitions. Her style is straightforward and supportive so parents can talk about immediate concerns and plan next steps.
She uses several practical approaches to help people make changes that fit their lives. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Background and approach
Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to calm responses in tense moments. Solution-Focused Therapy looks for small, workable steps that move a situation forward. Debra has worked in clinics, hospitals, and schools, and she draws on that variety of settings when thinking about each person's situation.
That background influences how she adapts interventions to everyday routines and time limits parents often face. She also incorporates hypnotherapy where appropriate as a tool to support relaxation and focus. Sessions aim to be collaborative.
Debra helps people set clear goals and checks progress along the way. Conversations cover coping skills, communication techniques, and practical plans for managing parenting stress or relationship strain. Her approach emphasizes clear, achievable steps.
Parents can expect to leave sessions with a concrete idea to try between meetings, then review what worked in the next visit.
What Debra works with
Everything Debra lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Debra helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Family problems
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Debra lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-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 translate well to online sessions
Debra commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy in session. CBT focuses on spotting thoughts and behaviors that feed stress and then practicing small experiments to shift them, which works well over video or phone. Mindfulness Therapy teaches short attention and breathing exercises that clients can practice between meetings to manage anxiety or strong emotions.Finding the right mix of approaches happens together. The therapist will review goals, listen to what feels most useful, and recommend methods to try. Treatment is adjusted over time based on what helps and what fits daily life, creating a collaborative plan rather than a fixed prescription.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is helpful for face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited or a no-camera option is preferred. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, follow-up planning, or when someone needs a flexible way to connect between scheduled meetings.
Questions people ask about Debra
What kinds of problems does she address?
Areas include stress, anxiety, grief, parenting concerns, self esteem, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, mood conditions such as depression and bipolar, and workplace or caregiving stress.
What is her therapy style like?
She blends client-centered listening with structured methods like CBT and solution-focused techniques to set clear goals and find practical steps parents can use at home.
How long has she practiced?
She has 30 years of clinical experience working in clinics, hospitals, and schools, which informs how she adapts strategies to everyday life.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in New York.
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How is pricing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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