Therapist Debra Younger Photo

Debra Younger, LPC

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Coping with life changes
Video Phone Messaging

About me

Greetings,

I am pleased and excited that you have decided to consider me as a possible partner in your journey of discovery, growth, and healing and I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you.

My name is Debra Younger. I have the claim to fame of being a 4th generation Californian, though I currently live in New Mexico, and I am blessed to be able to partner with my animal-assisted therapy dog Shiloh in my face to face clinical practice.

I have been a professional therapist for 8 years, and a Life Coach and Pastoral Counselor for 12 years. Prior to this, I was an RN for over 33 years, specializing in Home Health Care and Hospice, as well as Maternal Child Health. As a result, I am able to bring a wide breadth of learning and experience to my work. I am also a veteran and have a heart for working with our returning servicemen and women as they struggle to re-integrate back into civilian life from a combat or military environment.

On a personal note, my many life experiences, such as being a single parent for 23 years, allow me to truly understand and emphasize with many of the adverse life events my clients have experienced. I have also been in my own personal therapy for 10 years, so I understand what it takes to admit that you’re human, that you can’t always handle what life throws at you, and be courageous enough to seek help.

My areas of expertise lie in working with individuals who are struggling to deal with the adverse events they have experienced in their lives; including trauma, all forms of abuse, loss, grief, and attachment issues and the symptoms that arise as a result – anxiety, low self-esteem, PTSD, unresolved grief and sadness, and difficulty living healthy, happy lives.

My approach to therapy is founded on my belief that my clients are more than the problems that they are experiencing and bring to therapy. It is a holistic approach that sees them as a whole person consisting of mind, body, and spirit intimately intertwined and inseparable. A problem in any one area always affects the others and none of the areas can afford to be ignored and not any one specific therapy holds all the answers.


Therefore, I choose to utilize a toolbox that offers interventions from a variety of counseling approaches, depending on the needs of my clients. However, my primary approach to therapy is using Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy.

As a Life Coach, IFS is also an excellent intervention to foster growth and change in healthy and positive directions. Being able to work with identified ‘Inner Critics” and convert them to “Inner Champions” and “Inner Mentors” is very empowering.

So, whether you are looking for help in dealing with the negative stuff life throws at you, or are looking to grow and improve in your personal life, I believe that I can help you accomplish your goals and desires and I would welcome the opportunity to walk with you on your journey.

Professional experience

9yrs in practice

Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Depression, Abandonment, Attachment Issues, Blended Family Issues, Cancer, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Communication Problems, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence, Family of Origin Issues, Fatherhood Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Infidelity, Isolation/Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Military and Veterans Issues, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Phobias, Post-traumatic Stress, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Women's Issues

Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems

License information

MO LPC 2018043925

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Debra Younger. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

She listens and makes me feel positive about relationships! Makes me look forward to therapy

Written on Dec 07, 2022 after therapy with Debra for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue

Debra was an excellent therapist who gave me a safe space to talk and she let me know my emotions did not rule or control me but were only parts which could be controlled by self. I enjoyed therapy with her, it was very enlightening and I have had a lot of self discovery. Unfortunately I am unable to continue therapy with her due to some constraints.

Written on Sep 24, 2021 after therapy with Debra for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Debra, is a great therapist she has been very attentive and good at understanding the world from my perspective and she navigated all our cultural differences smoothly, she is also non-judgmental in her approach and offers great approaches that were hard to find in another therapist, she is also very responsive on chat and made me feel supported and cared for. :D

Written on Aug 10, 2021 after therapy with Debra for 1 month on issues concerning trauma and abuse

Debra is great! I love working with her.

Written on Jul 08, 2021 after therapy with Debra for 2 months on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes

with just simple conversations, Debra helped me in a short time to experience a powerful shift.: my attitude toward challenges and past failures has really change. heelp is a better help.

Written on Apr 28, 2021 after therapy with Debra for 3 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, and trauma and abuse

In the short time I have spent meeting with Debra, I have experienced a huge improvement in clarity and direction. Debra is quick to respond with positive reinforcement and clear and realistic paths to wellness. Her approach is authentic and patient which I appreciate so much. Her experience in the mental health field is evident with every interaction. I always leave a session feeling heard, supported, and motivated to find solutions for myself and my life. 10/10 would recommend.

Written on Feb 27, 2021 after therapy with Debra for 2 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem