Hello, my name is Debi Kimbler. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have been practicing in Sarasota and Manatee Counties for the past 16 years. I have a son and a daughter and three beautiful grandchildren, one of whom lives with me. My grandson, Julian, is six years old and has lived with me since he was 8 months old. I love animals and for a time I owned and operated an Equestrian Center. Currently, my grandson and I are raising three baby chicks! He joins me in my love of gardening too!

I grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and I completed my education at Riverview High School, Manatee Community College (now State College of Florida), Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, University of South Florida in Tampa and Barry University in Miami, Florida. My career began in the court system where I developed a passion for the “helping field” as the Family Law Division Coordinator of the Guardian ad Litem Program. In that position, I trained and coached volunteers to be special court advocates for children whose parents were embroiled in custody disputes. During that portion of my career, I pursued a Master of Social Work degree at USF so that I could grow in the capacity to help others.  Since then, I have worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with young adults and older adults who are encountering stressful life transitions, depression, anxiety, all mental health diagnoses, PTSD, substance abuse, chronic medical conditions, chronic pain, bereavement issues, family discord, retirement challenges, self-assertiveness, self-esteem and a multitude of other life stressors.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed:

I believe that a decision to go to therapy means that a person is insightful and aware of their own needs. It takes internal strength to ask for help when one knows things do not feel just quite right or when the patterns of one’s past haven’t seemingly worked out for the better. Taking the first step may involve courage and willingness to confront pain or uncertainty.

More Info About My Therapeutic Approach:

I am non-directive in my eclectic therapeutic approach to intervention, which includes research-supported techniques, i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic approaches and Humanistic/Client-Centered approaches. Through a Humanistic lens, I focus on helping people to free themselves and grow so that they may live more fully. I try to foster psychological growth, while creating a warm and accepting therapeutic relationship that encourages one to move in a healthy direction.

My Philosophy to Helping:

My philosophy is not to counsel a person to do what I think they should or should not do. Rather, I strive to assist one in finding solutions and coping tools to help navigate their struggles, while actively listening to what each person has encountered during their journey through life. During this process, a therapeutic alliance is formed that has sometimes lasted many years. Once a person completes a course of therapy, my door is always open for one to come back when one needs support and guidance.

I look forward to meeting you and working with you!