Hello, my name is Debbie Grace Lugtu. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have my master's degree in counseling. I graduated from Palo Alto University in 2020 with Counseling Honor Society. I am a compassionate-focused and strength-based therapist. I use a psychodynamic (insight-oriented) and narrative therapeutic orientation.
I specialize in working with adults, who are struggling with depression, self-esteem issues, anxiety, and trauma.
I create a safe space for my clients using a compassionate, warm, client-led approach. I am strength-based and use encouraging language in session while following your lead.
My ideal client is reflective as I ask questions to deep dive and explore underlying issues and themes to help them gain insight. I use a narrative theoretical orientation, believing that after we’ve understood ourselves using compassionate lens, we have the power to unlearn our patterns that no longer serve us, and ultimately, re-author our narrative.
In our sessions, you will also learn Mindfulness, CBT, and DBT skills to help you manage emotions and stress.
I collaboratively work with my clients and follow my client's lead to come up with treatment goals my client wants to work on in therapy.
In the first sessions, I highly focus on rapport building and listening to your narrative/story. I use psychoeducation to help you understand depression, anxiety, trauma, and/or emotions. I work with you to teach you coping skills, so you have the tools necessary first to help you with day-to-day challenges.
Throughout our work, I use an attachment-based lens to help you figure out the underlying issue and where issue has stemmed from. I use narrative therapy to work with you to re-author your story. Alongside, I teach coping skills such as Mindfulness and CBT.
