Debra Cook

Debra is a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSW-A) who works with teens and adults ready to feel more at home in themselves. She earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Many of Debra’s clients feel emotions deeply and intensely, which can make it difficult to slow down before reacting or to settle once something has been stirred up. For some, long-standing anxiety or depression may hum in the background or suddenly take center stage. For others, trauma or early childhood experiences can shape how safe it feels to trust, how they respond in relationships, or how harshly they speak to themselves. Some clients are grieving a relationship, a role, or a version of themselves they no longer recognize. Others come in with a diagnosis like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or recurring challenges in relationships and emotional intensity that they want to better understand.

Debra helps clients understand the patterns that once protected them but may no longer fit who they are becoming. She will challenge you, and when you do something brave, she will not let it pass quietly. Her style is warm, thoughtful, and collaborative, creating a space that holds both compassion and accountability while leaving room for a little humor. Debra joyfully welcomes LGBTQ+ clients and anyone looking for a place where they can show up fully as themselves.

Debra is trained in EMDR and integrates approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside strengths-based, solution-focused, and attachment-informed work. She helps clients develop insight into long-standing patterns while building the skills and courage to take meaningful steps toward the life they want to live.

Outside the therapy room, Debra enjoys gardening, chasing waterfalls, savoring a warm beverage, and music that invites her to dance slightly off tempo or sing a little off-key.