Deborah Richardson, LCSW
Tennessee · 45 years in practice
Deborah Richardson is a licensed clinical social worker with 45 years of experience.
License and registration
- LCSW, Tennessee
- 3405 · expires August 2026
- NPI
- 1609923812 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 45
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About Deborah
Deborah Richardson is a licensed clinical social worker with 45 years of experience. She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy along with other approaches to help people handle stress, anxiety, grief, and life changes. Deb writes and listens in a warm, plain way and aims to make therapy feel practical and down to earth.
Deborah found her path to helping others over four decades in many settings. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient programs, nursing homes, group homes, and a prison.
Background and approach
She also did forensic psychiatry for fifteen years and held a independent practice for twenty-four years, bringing a wide view of people’s struggles. Her style is straightforward and interactive. Sessions often include talking through emotions, practicing new ways to respond, and using creative activities like writing or music when helpful.
Deborah believes remembering small personal details matters as much as therapeutic technique. Clients commonly come for help with trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, bipolar mood issues, parenting stress, relationship and communication problems, and end-of-life concerns. She also supports people facing multicultural challenges, aging and geriatric issues, and caregiving strain such as compassion fatigue.
Deborah trained in social work at The University of Tennessee and holds the LCSW credential. She accepts international clients and offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. New clients begin by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session according to therapist availability.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Deborah lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Dependent personality
- Family problems
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Deborah names
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How Deborah’s approaches translate to online therapy
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on the emotional experience in the moment and how those feelings shape relationships and self-view. In sessions this might look like naming a feeling, tracking how it shows up in the body, and practicing new responses to create more connection and calm.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It often uses simple exercises to clarify what matters most and small steps to act on those values despite difficult feelings.
Attachment-Based Therapy centers on patterns in close relationships and how early bonds shape current reactions. Work here often includes reflecting on past and present relationship experiences to build new ways of relating and greater emotional safety.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Deborah will talk with each person about needs, goals, and preferences, and together decide which methods to try. She treats that choice as a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video is useful for fuller interaction, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat is handy for quick check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to keep appointments, fit therapy into a busy life, and continue progress when travel or distance would otherwise get in the way.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Deborah commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, and coping with life changes. Other focuses include ADHD, bipolar mood disorders, parenting stress, relationship and communication problems, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is plainspoken and collaborative. She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy and other practical methods to talk through feelings and try new ways of responding.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
She has 45 years of experience across inpatient and outpatient settings, nursing homes, group homes, prisons, forensic psychiatry, and independent practice. That range informs a flexible, down-to-earth approach.
What credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW and completed a master’s in social work at The University of Tennessee. She practices from Tennessee.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. She also accepts international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options allow short check-ins or longer conversations as needed.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
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