Debby Lazarine

Hello! I’m Debby Lazarine, LCSW, RPT

Taking the first step toward therapy takes genuine courage. At Bearing Burdens, LLC, I provide a safe, compassionate, and empowering space to share your heavy loads, discover your strengths, and restore balance. Whether you are seeking support for your child, teenager, yourself, or an aging loved one, I am here to walk alongside you.

Background & Education

• Education & Licensure: BSW from Dalton State College (2014), MSW from Southern Adventist University (2016), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 2020.
• Specialized Credential: Registered Play Therapist (RPT), utilizing creative, developmentally precise methods to help children heal.

Areas of Specialty

• Children & Teens: I combine specialized Play Therapy with acute crisis experience to help youth process big emotions, school stress, and behavioral hurdles.
• Grief & Transitions: Having worked extensively in hospice care, I offer deep support for families navigating the end-of-life process, profound loss, and major life shifts.
• Geriatric & Memory Care: Rooted in a passion for senior care, my background includes dementia support with the Area Agency on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association, alongside providing dedicated psychotherapy in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• Mental Health Wellness: I partner with clients across the lifespan to manage and overcome depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD.

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I draw from a wide, versatile toolkit of modalities to fit your unique personality and needs, including (but not limited to) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills, Play Therapy, and Restorative Storytelling.

"You are the expert on your own life, but you don't have to carry the hard chapters by yourself. Let's work together to lighten the load."

It is completely normal to feel a bit nervous. At Bearing Burdens, LLC, our initial session is not about diving straight into your deepest pains; it is about building safety, connection, and a roadmap forward.

1. A Safe, Tailored Environment

Whether you are an adult sitting down for a warm conversation, or a child entering a dedicated play therapy space where "toys are words," the environment is entirely non-judgmental, calm, and secure. We move at your pace.

2. The First Session Roadmap

Think of the first session as an intake and discovery conversation. Together, we will look at:

• The Present Weight: What specific burdens or challenges brought you to therapy at this moment?
• The Big Picture: A holistic look at your history, strengths, and what has (or hasn't) worked for you in the past.
• The Logistics: Briefly ensuring you are comfortable with privacy and the flow of our sessions.

3. Goals & Outcomes

We don’t aim to solve everything in the first 50 minutes. Instead, our goals for day one are:

• Immediate Relief: Experiencing the physical and emotional lightness that comes from sharing a heavy load with someone entirely in your corner.
• A Collaborative Plan: Outlining 1–2 primary goals for our work—whether that is managing panic, processing a loss, or helping your child regulate big emotions.

You do not have to carry your heaviest loads alone, and no matter what stage of life you or your loved ones are in, you will be met with specialized, deeply compassionate expertise.