Debra Stonewall

My name is Debra Stonewall. I am a licensed Professional Counselor along with a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. I take a Person-Centered approach to therapy. I pride myself on helping my clients feel connected instead of evaluated. My specialties are anxiety, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, marriage, and trauma. I also have extensive knowledge and understanding of the military community because my husband served 30 years in the military. I have been exposed to and lived through some of the unique problems military families and soldiers experience.

My approach

I utilize an eclectic approach to therapy. I believe that each problem and individual deserves a therapeutic approach that works for them. In my experience, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focus Brief Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Person-Centered Therapy have been some of the most effective therapeutic approaches. I am not limited to these approaches, but I do utilize them most often.

My focus

I typically work with clients who experience various types of traumas. I also see clients who struggle with mood disorders, ADHD, depression, marriage issues, women issues, along with family dynamics.

My communication style

My goal is for clients to feel like they are talking to someone they can relate to. My clients experience personalization, connection, trust, and acceptance. Working with me will be something you look forward to. You can expect solutions and resolve to your life conflicts and struggles.

My journey to mental healthcare

I am a proud military spouse of a 30-year veteran, and I have 3 beautiful sons. I worked in the field of education as a teacher and an administrator on and off for 20 years. I also worked and volunteered as a life coach and life skills counselor for many years while teaching and on my summer breaks. I desired to become a therapist late in life. I recognized that for most of my life, I have been counseling people in one way or another. It has been my passion to help people, and my life has reflected that. I decided to become a mental health counselor after working with sex trafficking victims in Hawaii. I realized I needed to become more educated and skilled in order to help them make transitions in their life. While being stationed in various places due to the military, I would help military families make life transitions and often found myself counseling couples which I thoroughly enjoyed. Helping people is what I love to do!!

My goals for you

I will conduct a bio-psychosocial which will help me see an overview of the experiences that have brought you to therapy. In this process, we will discuss your goals for therapy, and as your therapist, I will collaborate with you in developing a treatment plan to get accomplish those goals.

My first session with you

You can expect a pleasant experience in our initial session. I will be completing a bio-psychosocial assessment during our first session; however, I am able to conduct the assessment without the client feeling like they are being interrogated. I allow the client to move at his or her own pace. I am also very personal; I introduce myself and tell the client a little about who I am and how I arrived at my current place in life to help them feel more comfortable.