About Debra
Debra Sarno is a licensed clinical social worker in New York who uses practical, person-focused therapy to help people navigate difficult moments. She brings three decades of experience to sessions and aims to create a calm, respectful space where clients can set clear goals and make steady progress. Her work combines client-centered listening with tools from mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral approaches.
Sessions emphasize learning skills for stress, anxiety, mood changes, and grief.
Background and approach
She also supports people facing parenting strain, caregiving demands, workplace stress, and relationship or intimacy concerns. Over a 30-year career Debra has practiced in clinics, hospitals, and schools. That variety gives her a range of perspectives on practical problems such as chronic illness, blended family issues, and end-of-life concerns.
She uses what fits each person rather than a single formula. In sessions she helps people build coping skills, adjust unhelpful thinking patterns, and set small, achievable steps toward change. Hypnotherapy and solution-focused methods are offered when clients are interested in those options.
The goal is steady, usable progress rather than quick fixes. Debra holds a license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, and works with adults in English. Location and logistics are handled so people can connect in the format that suits them best.
Practical approaches for online therapy
Debra uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building trust so people can set their own goals; it helps when someone needs a steady, supportive space to talk through problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts affect feelings and behavior and teaches concrete skills for anxiety, depression, and stress management.Hypnotherapy is also available as an option when a client is curious about it. In this context hypnotherapy is described as guided relaxation and focused attention to help people access resources for change and reduce habit-driven responses. These approaches are offered flexibly and chosen together with the client based on needs and preferences.
Online sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth conversations and skill coaching, phone calls can fit a break at work or require less bandwidth, and chat or messaging works for brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. The format can change as needs shift, and the therapist will collaborate to find what works in practice.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Debra address?
What is her therapy style like?
How much experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she located?
Which languages are used in sessions?
Can international clients work with her?
What session formats are available?
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Parenting issues
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Coaching
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 30 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English