- Addictions support
- Trauma care
- Grief and loss
About Debra
Debra (Debbie) Whatley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Louisiana with 25 years of experience. She works with people facing addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and self-esteem concerns. Debra centers practical help and steady guidance in sessions rather than jargon or flashy techniques.
She listens for the patterns behind problems and helps people break them down into manageable steps. That can mean sorting through painful memories from trauma, building new ways to handle anger, or developing routines that reduce cravings and lessen the hold of addictive behaviors. For grief and self-worth issues she uses clear, concrete tools to help people cope day to day.
Debra emphasizes the client’s own knowledge about their life. She treats the person as the expert on their story and uses that perspective to shape short-term goals and realistic next steps. Sessions focus on what clients can try between meetings, so progress is practical and trackable.
Her practice includes work on family-related strains such as blended family challenges, caregiver stress, communication problems, and issues around divorce and infidelity. She also addresses feelings like emptiness, guilt, shame, and fears about commitment and control.
People who prefer straightforward, experience-based support will find Debra’s approach direct and organized. She combines decades of clinical practice with a focus on real-life problem solving and steady skill building.
How evidence-based approaches work online
Debra uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach is behavioral work that identifies unhelpful patterns and teaches new responses through small, repeatable tasks. This helps with issues like addictive behaviors and anger by building alternative habits and coping steps.Another frequent element is trauma-informed care that helps people process difficult experiences at a manageable pace. That involves pacing memory work, grounding strategies, and practical methods for reducing distress so daily functioning improves.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Debra will talk through goals, preferences, and what feels doable, then recommend methods most likely to help. Clients and therapist decide collaboratively and adjust methods as progress or needs change.
Practical benefits of online sessions include easier fit into busy schedules and fewer errands to attend appointments. If you prefer remote meetings, confirm the current session options before booking so you know the available format. Online work can make follow-up check-ins and consistent meetings simpler to fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Louisiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and self-esteem concerns. Additional focus areas include family and relationship strains such as communication problems and divorce.
What is her approach in sessions?
Her style is practical and skills-focused. She helps clients break problems into small steps and practices real strategies between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with individuals on a range of concerns including addiction and trauma.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LMFT licensed in Louisiana and conducts practice from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can I work with her from another country?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are provided to clients within the therapist's permitted region.
How are sessions paid for?
Fees vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific pricing is provided during the intake process.
What do I need to do to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to start.