Debra Sarno, LCSW

Debra Sarno is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York. She brings 30 years of experience working in clinics, hospitals, and schools. Debra aims to create a supportive setting where people can talk about what feels stuck and find practical ways forward.

She uses a mix of Client-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused ideas to shape the work. Sessions focus on concrete steps, from managing stress and anxiety to addressing grief and career worries. Debra also helps people navigating midlife questions, relationship strain, parenting pressures, and caregiving stress.

Her background includes clinical training at the Columbia University School of Social Work and study with the New York Milton H. Erickson Society for Psychotherapy and Hypnosis. Those experiences inform how she blends different methods to meet each person's needs. She also has experience as a school social worker and in medical settings.

In a typical session she listens, reflects, and offers tools you can try between meetings. That might include focused behavioral experiments, mindfulness exercises, or short-term solution work to tackle an immediate problem. The goal is to help people build skills that fit their daily life.

People seeking help are invited to begin with a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions as offered. Debra emphasizes collaboration so goals and treatment plans match what matters most to each person.

How her approaches translate to online care

Debra uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in ways that are easy to adapt to remote work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful, collaborative relationship so people feel heard and understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and introduces practical tools you can try between sessions to reduce anxiety or boost mood.

Choosing an approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences and test methods that fit their life. If something doesn't help, adjustments are made together so the work stays useful and relevant.

The profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm available online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow focused check-ins between commitments. It can also let people use mindfulness practices or brief behavioral exercises in the setting where those skills will be applied most often.