Debra Cassidy

Hello and welcome!

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Throughout my 15 years of practice, I have developed an appreciation for the uniqueness of every individual. In treatment, one of my goals is to help you to live life as your best, authentic self. I have found that childhood and adolescent experiences often shape our opinion of ourselves, creating a false or negative self-view that unconsciously shapes the path we take as adults. One of my goals in therapy is to help you to recognize these false impressions of yourself, and to help you let go of them so that you can live your life in a way that is best and satisfying to you. I specialize in depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and life changing issues.

My approach to therapy is gentle and supportive. Life is unpredictable. The ways in which we react to certain situations will often determine what happens next. As your therapist I will offer you different perspectives that will help you to make decisions that take you in a positive direction. Within our therapeutic relationship, you will feel safe and comfortable so that you will be able to share your thoughts and feelings with someone who is not judgmental and who believes in you and your ability to change and grow. You will feel empowered to make positive changes. We all develop patterns of behavior; some are healthy and some are not. I will help you to recognize your strengths, so that you can build on them and your weaknesses so that you can be careful of them. Life changes can be especially difficult. Marriage, children, retirement, career challenges can all be difficult to manage. Loss, grief, pain, having been in an abusive relationship are all experiences that can be tempered through understanding, kindness, and knowing that we are not alone and that we have the capacity to learn and move forward. I believe that people are remarkable in their ability to change. Sometimes we just need help to recognize it.

Think of our first meeting as a collaborative consultation. I’ll listen to your story, answer any questions you have about the process, and together we will outline a personalized plan that honors your unique experiences, strengths, and goals. We will begin to get to know each other and determine if we are a "good fit" so that our work together will be positive and productive. By the end of our first session, you should feel comfortable knowing that you have made the right choice in entering this endeavor to change your life for the better.