Debra Thurman, LCSW
Experienced LCSW helping adults through change
Details
| Name | Debra Thurman |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Montana |
| Licensed in | Montana |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Debra
Debra Thurman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Montana with 25 years of experience. She prefers to work with adults and aims to make therapy a calm, practical space. She treats people with respect and tailors sessions to each person’s needs.
Clients meet someone who listens first. Debra focuses on what matters to the individual and helps set clear, realistic goals. She uses everyday language and practical steps so people can try things between sessions.
Background and approach
Her work often addresses stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, depression, sleep problems, and major life changes. She also supports people dealing with trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, career shifts, and bipolar mood concerns. Additional areas she can address include caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and family of origin issues.
Debra draws on Narrative Therapy along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered approaches. She may also use Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools when emotion regulation skills are needed. These approaches are used to help clients tell their story differently, notice unhelpful patterns, and build skills for daily life.
Sessions are offered in English and delivered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Therapy uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To start, a person selects the Start Therapy button and completes a short matching questionnaire before scheduling.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Anger management, Self esteem among the things Debra works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Debra among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Debra directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Debra directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and skills-based approaches work online
Debra often draws on Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from problem stories so they can tell a different, more useful version of their life. Narrative work can be helpful for people who feel stuck in repeating patterns and want clearer direction.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on values and taking small committed actions even when feelings are difficult, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. These approaches suit issues like anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with big life changes.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client talk about goals, try methods, and adjust as needed. Debra aims to match techniques to each person's needs and preferences rather than forcing a single method.
Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions happen. Video calls let people use visual cues during deeper work, phone sessions can fit into busy days or use less bandwidth, live chat works for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a daily routine and keep work moving forward.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, depression, sleep problems, and coping with life changes. Trauma, parenting pressures, career issues, and bipolar mood concerns are also listed areas of focus.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and person-centered. She listens first, then helps set clear goals and offers skills people can use between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of professional experience working across a wide age range and most often with adults.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She practices in Montana and holds the credential MT LCSW, which denotes a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to give different ways of connecting.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Sessions use a subscription model and the cost varies with location and therapist availability; the subscription can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Debra are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Debra where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Or see other therapists in Montana »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in Montana
- Ali Levesque, LCPC - Montana
- Lawrence "Lance" Bischoff, LCPC - Montana
- Cathy Christensen-Curry, LCSW - Montana
- Teresa Lewis, LCSW - Montana
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »