Deborah (Debbie) Connery
Calm guidance for life's transitions
LCSW Illinois
- Experience
- 33 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Deborah
Deborah (Debbie) Connery is an Illinois-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 33 years of experience supporting adults through a wide range of life challenges.
Background and approach
She works with people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and major life changes, and also addresses concerns like self-esteem, career transitions, relationship and family difficulties, anger, bipolar disorder, and challenges related to obsessions, compulsions, and panic.
Her practice also includes areas such as aging and geriatric issues, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and difficulties tied to isolation, guilt, or control issues. Debbie emphasizes a collaborative, client-centered style that values empathy, openness, and respect.
She tailors care rather than relying on a single method, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and client-centered techniques to help clients identify strengths and build practical strategies. Her aim is to help people uncover sources of hope and move forward when life feels disrupted.
Clients who choose her can expect a compassionate practitioner who prioritizes partnership in therapy, helping to set goals and explore approaches that fit each person’s needs and pace.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy emphasizes understanding each person's experience and building a therapeutic relationship that respects individual values and goals; it helps when the main need is empathic listening and finding personal meaning. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical skills to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, panic, and obsessive thinking. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify values and strengthen motivation for change, which can be useful for career shifts, life transitions, or sticking with new coping strategies.Finding the right approach is part of the work and she will collaborate with clients to determine which methods fit their needs and preferences. That collaborative process means trying techniques, reviewing progress, and adjusting the plan based on what helps the client meet their goals.
Online sessions make those approaches accessible through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These formats provide flexibility for scheduling, reduce travel time, and allow clients to engage from locations that suit their routines while still working with licensed professionals to learn skills, process difficult experiences, and pursue meaningful change.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
33+ years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English