- CBT methods
- Mindfulness practice
- Art therapy elements
About Deborah
Deborah Jost-Beauford is an Illinois LCPC with 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist, art therapist, and pet therapist. She works with people who are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, and other life changes. Her practice also addresses sleep and eating problems, anger, ADHD, grief, trauma, and relationship and family concerns.
She uses several approaches in session, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness techniques, and psychodynamic ideas. Sessions often combine talking with practical exercises and creative methods drawn from her art therapy background. She also brings skills for managing chronic pain and perinatal mental health concerns when relevant.
Her style is practical and direct. She helps people name what's happening, try short experiments in thinking or behavior, and build skills for managing strong emotions. Sessions can include mindful breathing, grounding practices, and step-by-step problem solving for everyday stressors.
Deborah has worked with adults across the lifespan, including older adults, and has experience in grief and end-of-life counseling. Her background includes work with trauma and PTSD, and she integrates strategies for post-traumatic growth alongside symptom-focused tools.
People who want clear strategies and occasional creative interventions may find her approach useful. To begin, she asks people to describe their main concern and goals so sessions can focus on concrete next steps and practical coping skills.
How Deborah uses evidence-based approaches online
Deborah often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and test thoughts that increase anxiety, and to build new behavior patterns through small, practical steps. CBT is useful for social anxiety, worry, and problems with sleep or routines.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) strategies to help people tolerate difficult feelings while committing to actions that matter to them. ACT focuses on values and flexible responding, while DBT offers concrete skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Deborah will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences, and she adjusts tools as progress is made. This is a joint process of trying things and seeing what fits.
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life by removing travel time and allowing sessions during a lunch break or between other obligations. Some people also prefer brief check-ins when they need quick support or skill refreshers. Ask about the session formats offered when you schedule.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she address?
She works with anxiety, stress, depression, sleep and eating problems, trauma, grief, parenting strain, relationship and family concerns, ADHD, and related issues listed in her profile.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and skills-focused, blending talking therapies with mindfulness, brief experiments, and creative methods from art therapy.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist, art therapist, and pet therapist working with a wide range of concerns.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LCPC licensed in Illinois and practices in that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions billed and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription system that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.