- Family and parenting
- CBT informed care
- Foster care experience
About Deborah
Deborah Sterling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California. She draws on her background in child welfare to help people navigate family stress, parenting challenges, grief, anxiety, depression, and ADHD concerns. Deborah writes plainly and listens closely to what matters most to each person who reaches out.
Her work is shaped by practical, supportive therapy. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered methods, and Solution-Focused tools to help clients name problems and try concrete steps. Sessions often include talking through specific situations, identifying unhelpful thinking, and testing small changes between meetings.
Deborah spent more than 20 years working with children and families involved in the foster care system. She also has experience supporting teens and adults in therapeutic settings. That background informs her approach to adoption and foster care issues, family problems, and the stresses parents face.
She aims to create a steady, respectful space where people can bring what feels urgent. Practical problem solving and short-term goals are common, but Deborah adapts the pace to each person. She pays attention to how family dynamics, separation or divorce, and non-monogamous relationships affect daily life.
Deborah holds a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino and maintains her California LCSW credential. She works in English and focuses on clear, usable strategies for coping and self-care.
How Deborah’s approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the client. The therapist follows the client's lead and helps people clarify values, priorities, and goals. This approach is useful for parenting concerns, family stress, and building self-love.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behavior connect. Deborah uses CBT to help identify unhelpful thinking and try new actions that reduce anxiety or depression. This can be especially practical for ADHD coping strategies and mood symptoms.
Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, achievable changes. Sessions often set short-term goals and track what works, which helps when people need quick, usable tools for family conflicts or life transitions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Deborah will collaborate with each person to choose which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. The first few meetings are used to test what feels most helpful and adjust the plan accordingly.
Confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier and fit therapy into a busy routine, such as shorter check-ins during a workday or meetings that avoid travel time. It can also allow continuity of care during life changes while the therapist and client focus on practical steps and real-world progress.
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 Deborah commonly address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, relationship strain, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She practices supportive, client-centered therapy that emphasizes practical steps. Sessions combine listening with tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused work.
What is her professional background?
Deborah has a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino and has over 20 years of experience working with children and families in the foster care system, plus three years in her current licensed role.
Where is she licensed and located?
She is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to her availability.