Debra "Debs" Barritt , BACP

Debra "Debs" Barritt is a UK-based counsellor with a deep commitment to supporting people through grief, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression and a wide range of life changes. She trained as a person-centred counsellor and brings a heartfelt focus on community and human connection to her work, combining empathy with practical therapeutic tools.

Her professional background includes running a private practice, Adapt Counselling Haverhill, alongside providing counselling through an online service. Early experience at St Michael's Hospice in Basingstoke shaped her approach to bereavement care, where bedside presence and simple acts of comfort left a lasting impression on her work with people facing loss.

Debs' own life story, including growing up in a broken home and attending a boarding school for children described as maladjusted, informs her compassionate, survivor-oriented perspective. She studied part-time youth work at Brunel University and has drawn on those foundations while supporting people with trauma, abuse, addiction, intimacy-related issues, parenting and caregiver stress among other concerns.

She is a member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which is the professional body for counsellors in the UK. With 15 years of experience, Debs is known for offering steadiness, hope and practical help as clients learn to carry loss, manage change and strengthen relationships.

Her practice also draws on approaches such as Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Internal Family Systems to tailor support to each person's needs.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Sessions with Debra "Debs" Barritt

Debra "Debs" Barritt uses a blend of established approaches to help people navigate loss, relationship difficulties, anxiety and other life challenges. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on providing a warm, non-directive space where the person’s own insights and strengths are respected and developed - it is particularly helpful for building self-esteem and repairing relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works with the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, offering practical strategies to manage anxiety, depression and unhelpful patterns. Internal Family Systems helps people understand and compassionately work with the different parts of their inner experience, which can be effective for trauma, attachment issues and complex emotional responses.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Debra collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences. She and other licensed professionals can adapt techniques over time so therapy remains relevant and responsive.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging - make it easier to access support with flexibility. These formats allow people to attend sessions from home, balance therapy with work or family commitments, and maintain continuity of care even when schedules or circumstances change.