About Debbie

Debbie sees counseling a lot like the art of pottery. She has sat with many people who feel like a spoiled lump of clay. But the beauty of both pottery and counseling is that nothing and no one is too far gone. Together, she will co-labor with you to help you better understand your story and give it a new resilient ending.

Whatever you bring to counseling, Debbie will seek to find a treatment approach that works for you. She uses multiple theoretical frameworks, including Person-Centered, Attachment-Based, Narrative, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is trained in EMDR for treating trauma and is a certified facilitator for PREPARE/ENRICH premarital counseling. When working with kids, she loves to use play and sand tray therapy. She has experience working with trauma, burnout, loss, anxiety, depression, life transitions, anger, and family-of-origin issues. She works with all age demographics and people from many different spiritual and cultural backgrounds. As a Christian, she can offer spiritual integration in sessions upon client request.

Before being a counselor, Debbie received her B.A. from the University of Virginia. Then she lived in Spain for three years working with immigrants and refugees. Later, she worked in Fairfax County Public Schools with English Language Learners and special needs students. All of these experiences have increased her sensitivity to clients from diverse backgrounds. Debbie has a passion for serving those who have crossed cultural borders, such as missionaries, Third Culture Kids, or immigrants. In her free time, you might find Debbie creating something, dancing, eating spicy food, or hiking with her husband. She loves spending time with her friends, family, and church community.

Debbie has an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. She is a Licensed Resident in Counseling, License # 0704016340 which renews on the 09/30 of every year. She is actively pursuing a License in Professional Counseling (LPC) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and works under the supervision of Marianne G. Shirilla, MAMFC, LMFT, LPC-S.

Debbie offers therapeutic services, both in person and via telehealth, at a rate of $150 per 55-60 minute session. Although guaranteed payment from insurance is not possible, Debbie accepts Carelon BCBS, Anthem BCBS, CareFirst, Federal BCBS, and out-of-state BCBS. All in-network insurance is billed through her supervisor. Should you desire out-of-network reimbursement, she will provide you with a statement to submit to your insurance company.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Debbie or call 703-486-4999. You may also review her profile on Psychology Today. She will offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to get you started. Debbie currently has a waitlist for new clients.