Debra Shelton , LPC, LMHC

Debra Shelton is a licensed therapist with 22 years of clinical experience who supports individuals navigating depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, life transitions, and recovery from narcissistic abuse. She brings a practical, collaborative approach that encourages clients to identify their own strengths and try new coping strategies to create meaningful change.

Her therapeutic style is interactive, direct, casual, and respectful, focused on creating a supportive space for exploring problems and solutions. Debra blends the practical tools of cognitive behavioral therapy with the values-based focus of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and humanistic, client-centered principles to tailor treatment to each person’s needs. She emphasizes skill-building, new perspectives, and real-world problem solving so clients can apply what they learn to future challenges.

Debra is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida and has provided services through online counseling for the past six years. She holds the credentials LPC and LMHC - LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor and LMHC stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor - both indicating advanced training and state licensure to provide mental health care. Debra aims to empower people who are ready to take steps toward greater well-being and is experienced in guiding clients through the process of change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Virtual Care

Debra Shelton commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present - it can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on empathy, respect, and aiding clients in discovering their own solutions by creating a nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship - it supports self-exploration and growth. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers structured tools to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, making it useful for managing anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress.

Finding the best approach is an ongoing, collaborative process. Debra works with each person to assess their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques so the therapeutic plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single method.

Online therapy with Debra is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, mobility limitations, or geographic distance. These options allow clients to access licensed professionals from home, plan sessions around daily life, and maintain continuity of care when circumstances change.