Deborah (Debbie) Connery, LCSW
Calm, practical support for life’s biggest stresses
Book with DeborahWorks with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
How Deborah works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Years in practice
- 33
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Deborah
Deborah (Debbie) Connery is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 33 years of experience helping adults in Illinois manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, anger, and major life changes. She aims to make reaching out feel easier and meets each person with patience and respect. Her style centers on listening first and then working with the client to set practical goals.
Debbie focuses on clear, usable strategies rather than complicated jargon.
Background and approach
She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused approaches to help people rethink unhelpful patterns and build small changes that add up. Motivational interviewing is part of her toolbox to support people who want to find their own reasons to change. Sessions are collaborative and paced to the individual.
She looks for strengths and moments of hope that can be expanded into daily habits. When grief, trauma, or relationship strain feels overwhelming, she helps clients sort priorities and take manageable steps forward. Her background as an Illinois LCSW means she has long experience with mood disorders, panic, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and complex life situations such as hospice or aging issues.
Debbie also addresses communication problems, control issues, hoarding, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, goal-oriented work, and practical homework when it fits. The focus is on making life easier to manage and on helping people regain a sense of direction and purpose.
What Deborah works with
Everything Deborah lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Deborah's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Emptiness
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Deborah lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Online approaches that meet you where you are
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful relationship so clients feel heard and understood; it helps when someone needs a steady, accepting presence while sorting through feelings. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to change patterns that fuel anxiety, depression, or anger. Motivational interviewing helps people clarify their own reasons for making changes and supports commitment when motivation is low.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about symptoms, goals, and day-to-day life, then try methods that fit those needs. If an approach isn’t working, adjustments are made so the work stays useful and relevant to the person’s priorities.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. Video calls work well for conversational sessions and exercises that benefit from visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or when a session needs to be done during a break. Live chat and messaging can support brief check-ins, homework follow-up, or ongoing coaching-style contact between appointments. These formats help people fit therapy into busy lives while working with licensed professionals.
Questions people ask about Deborah
What concerns does Deborah help with?
She supports adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and life transitions, as well as related issues such as panic, OCD symptoms, and mood disorders.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, focusing on listening, setting clear goals, and using practical exercises that clients can try between sessions.
What is her experience working in this field?
She has worked in clinical practice for 33 years, bringing long-term experience with both common and complex emotional concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - practicing in Illinois.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.