Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman

Deborah 'Rachel' Friedman is an Ohio licensed independent social worker with 32 years of experience. She helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and LGBT-related concerns. Rachel emphasizes practical steps and steady support for people ready to make a change.

She works from the belief that each person is the expert on their own life. Sessions focus on identifying strengths and building on them. Rachel aims to help people find clearer ways to cope, make decisions, and move forward from painful experiences.

Her approach blends Trauma-Focused Therapy with client-centered work and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She uses mindfulness and solution-focused ideas to teach tools that can be used between sessions. The goal is to create manageable steps and real-world practices that fit daily life.

Rachel also brings experience supporting people dealing with control issues, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, and challenges like panic attacks and mood disorders. She has worked with hospice and end-of-life concerns and has familiarity with traumatic brain injury related issues.

Outside of clinical work she trains pets and service dogs, including a focus on psychiatric service dogs. This background informs a practical, down-to-earth style that values routine, small wins, and steady progress. Rachel encourages anyone who feels stuck to consider a first step toward change.

How her approaches work for online therapy

Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses directly on the effects of traumatic events and on building skills to reduce their impact. It helps people who have nightmares, flashbacks, or persistent distress related to past trauma by teaching ways to process memories and manage symptoms.

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own goals and experiences. The therapist listens deeply, reflects what she hears, and helps people clarify what matters most to them so they can make changes at their own pace.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking patterns and to try new behaviors that reduce anxiety and mood symptoms.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and recommend ways to combine methods that fit the situation. Together they will check what is working and adjust the plan as needed.

Confirm the exact session options before booking since formats are not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people attend without traveling long distances. Telephone or video formats may help when audio-only is preferable or when lower bandwidth is required, but please confirm which formats are offered before scheduling.