Profile / United States
Deborah Sterling, LCSW
California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Anxiety and Family
See online therapy options- CBT-informed techniques
- Child welfare experience
- Parenting and adoption
About Deborah
Deborah Sterling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with three years of practice listed. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, parenting and compassion fatigue. She also addresses topics such as adoption and foster care, divorce and separation, polyamory and non-monogamous relationships, and self-love.
Deborah uses straightforward, talk-based work that emphasizes noticing thoughts and testing different responses. Sessions look at unhelpful thinking, practical coping skills, and steps to change everyday habits that get in the way. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ideas alongside client-centered and solution-focused approaches.
Her background includes a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino with an emphasis on child welfare. Before entering private practice she spent many years working with children and families involved in the foster care system. That experience informs how she approaches parenting, adoption, and family problem topics.
In sessions she keeps things concrete. People can expect clear strategies, short exercises, and discussion about what works between meetings. The focus is on developing manageable routines and skills that reduce stress and improve daily functioning.
Deborah works with teens and adults in therapeutic settings according to the biography. She offers help in English and practices from California as an LCSW.
How Deborah uses CBT, client-centered, and solution-focused work online
Deborah draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try alternative responses. CBT techniques are used to break down problems into manageable steps, practice new behaviors, and track what changes over time. Client-centered approaches emphasize listening and supporting the person's own goals, helping them clarify what matters most. Solution-focused work concentrates on small, concrete next steps and what can be done differently right away.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Deborah collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She reviews what is helping and adjusts plans so the approach stays practical and relevant.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, a shorter check-in can fit into a work break, or audio-only meetings can reduce bandwidth and camera needs. These practical benefits help people keep up with regular work toward clearer thinking, better routines, and improved coping skills.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, parenting, and compassion fatigue.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is talk-focused and practical, using clear strategies and short exercises to change unhelpful thoughts and habits.
What is her professional background?
She has a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino with an emphasis on child welfare and documented experience working with children and families in foster care.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LCSW licensed in California and practices in that state.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.