Debra Schwarze , LCPC, LPC

Debra Schwarze is a licensed counselor practicing in Illinois and Wisconsin with 30 years of experience across community mental health, schools, faith-based organizations, health systems, and private practice. She holds master's degrees in counseling and in art therapy and maintains LCPC and LPC licensure, reflecting extensive professional training and long-term clinical work.

Her approach to counseling is eclectic and tailored to each person. She primarily draws on cognitive behavioral techniques, DBT-informed skills, client-centered principles, and expressive therapy methods. When clients are open to it, she incorporates art making as a way to help express feelings and experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

Schwarze has worked with people facing major depression, bipolar disorder, a range of anxiety conditions, ADHD, significant life changes, end-of-life concerns, and cancer. She also supports those coping with grief, relationship and family challenges, caregiver stress, and other complex emotional issues.

She recognizes how difficult it can be to seek help and encourages the courage it takes to begin. In sessions she aims to create a comfortable space for honest conversation and collaborative work. While she does not promise to fix every problem, she commits to helping clients identify and take steps toward the changes they want to make.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Debra Schwarze works with several well-established methods adapted for online settings. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting therapeutic relationship and following the client's goals, which helps when people need support to explore feelings, values, and life choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, emphasizes identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and learning practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, and stress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is an approach used to process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact when appropriate for the client.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Debra will work with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals and then tailor the methods used so therapy fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people attend sessions. Video calls and phone sessions allow real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide alternatives for those who prefer written communication or need more frequent check-ins. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, and health commitments while working with licensed professionals and therapists toward meaningful change.