Debra Schwarze, LCPC, LPC
Licensed counselor for stress, trauma, and grief
- 30 years experience
- CBT and EMDR
- Art therapy options
About Debra Schwarze
Debra Schwarze is a licensed counselor practicing in Illinois and Wisconsin with three decades of experience in mental health settings. She holds master's degrees in counseling and art therapy and maintains professional credentials as an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and as an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor. Her background spans community mental health, schools, faith-based programs, health systems, and private practice, giving her a broad perspective on challenges people face across the lifespan.
She uses an eclectic, client-centered approach that draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), DBT-informed techniques, expressive therapies including art-making, and additional methods such as EMDR and mindfulness where appropriate. When clients are open to it, she incorporates creative processes to help express thoughts and feelings that may be hard to put into words. This blend of practical skills and expressive options helps address symptoms and deepen self-understanding.
Debra works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, caregiving and cancer-related stress, sleep difficulties, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and life-changing transitions. She also supports those coping with compassion fatigue, career questions, low self-esteem, and end-of-life matters.
Recognizing how difficult it can be to ask for help, Debra commits to creating a comfortable space for honest work. She does not promise to solve every problem, but she partners with clients to identify goals and to make meaningful changes that support improved well-being.
She uses an eclectic, client-centered approach that draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), DBT-informed techniques, expressive therapies including art-making, and additional methods such as EMDR and mindfulness where appropriate. When clients are open to it, she incorporates creative processes to help express thoughts and feelings that may be hard to put into words. This blend of practical skills and expressive options helps address symptoms and deepen self-understanding.
Debra works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, caregiving and cancer-related stress, sleep difficulties, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and life-changing transitions. She also supports those coping with compassion fatigue, career questions, low self-esteem, and end-of-life matters.
Recognizing how difficult it can be to ask for help, Debra commits to creating a comfortable space for honest work. She does not promise to solve every problem, but she partners with clients to identify goals and to make meaningful changes that support improved well-being.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingADHD
Additional Focus Areas
CancerCaregiver issues and stressDivorce and separationEmptinessForgivenessHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksWomen's issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Mindfulness Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Debra Schwarze have?
Debra Schwarze has 30 years of experience in mental health settings.
Is Debra Schwarze a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credentials LCPC and LPC. Her license details are IL LCPC 180-005252 and WI LPC 7605-125.
In which languages does Debra Schwarze provide therapy?
Debra Schwarze provides therapy in English.
Where is Debra Schwarze located?
She is located in Illinois.
How can I work with Debra Schwarze as my therapist?
You can work with Debra Schwarze through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Debra Schwarze work with international clients?
Debra Schwarze does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Debra Schwarze cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Debra Schwarze integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and EMDR into her practice. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and supporting the client to find their own solutions - it helps with self-esteem, life transitions, and relational concerns by emphasizing the client’s perspective and goals. CBT examines patterns of thought and behavior to develop practical skills for reducing anxiety, depression, and stress, and it is often used to address panic, obsessive thoughts, and mood symptoms. EMDR is a trauma-focused method that works with the way distressing memories are processed to reduce their emotional intensity and can be helpful for trauma and abuse-related reactions.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Debra works with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, preferences, and goals, and she adapts treatment as progress and circumstances evolve. The choice of techniques is shaped by the issues presented and by what feels most helpful to the individual.
Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility and accessibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or health concerns. These options make it easier to schedule regular sessions, try different formats of communication, and maintain continuity of care when in-person meetings are not possible. Licensed professionals can deliver the same evidence-informed approaches through these modalities while tailoring the process to each client’s comfort and needs.