- CBT techniques
- Psychodynamic work
- Solution-focused plans
About Deborah
Dr. Deborah Harris-Sims is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in the District of Columbia with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing relationship strain, anger, stress, anxiety, and life changes. Sessions address a wide range of concerns from trauma and depression to career and parenting stress.
Dr. Sims blends practical, evidence-informed methods with a client-centered stance. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to identify patterns that keep problems going. She draws on psychodynamic thinking to look at how past relationships shape current reactions. Solution-focused techniques are used to set short-term goals and try concrete changes between sessions.
Her background includes work with people who have experienced trauma and emotional abuse, and with those facing grief, addictions, and identity questions. She also helps people who report problems with sleep, eating, or impulse control tied to stress and mood issues. The approach is straightforward: name the patterns, try small experiments, then notice what changes.
In sessions she pays attention to communication and commitment issues that often underlie recurring anger or resentment. She guides people to practical tools for de-escalation, clearer boundaries, and rebuilding trust in relationships. Homework is typical and brief, focused on real-life practice rather than long reading.
Dr. Sims accepts international clients and works in English. Her practice aims to help people manage intense feelings and improve daily functioning through practical interventions and reflective conversation.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Dr. Sims commonly uses cognitive behavioral and solution-focused methods in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replaces them with practical strategies that reduce reactivity and improve coping. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, measurable steps and short-term experiments that aim to produce quick changes in daily life.She also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at how long-standing relationship patterns influence current anger and communication. That work involves noticing recurring themes, linking feelings to past experiences, and using that awareness to change how someone responds in heated moments. Deciding which mix of approaches to use is a collaborative process between therapist and client, based on current goals and what feels most useful in practice.
The practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into a busy schedule and making short check-ins easier to arrange. If you are considering working together, confirm the available session formats when you book so they match your needs. Sessions are designed to be workable in everyday life and to support trying new communication or coping strategies between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia, South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with relationship problems, trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, grief, addictions, and related issues such as sleep or eating problems.
What is her general approach in sessions?
Sessions mix client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and solution-focused methods to set goals and try practical changes.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical counseling experience across a range of settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in the District of Columbia.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are accepted and sessions are offered in English.
Which session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the profile.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.