Debra (Debbie) Airth
RTCc, SSW
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
English
Debbie's
Warm video welcome
Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here. Reaching out for support can feel like a big step, and it takes courage to even begin. In this space, you don’t have to have it all figured out or know the “right” words, just come as you are. My role is to walk alongside you with care, curiosity, and respect, so you can explore at your own pace. Whatever brings you here, identity, grief, trauma, chronic illness, or simply the weight of being human, you don’t have to face it alone.
Background
I’m a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor Candidate (RTCc), and my path into this work is rooted in both professional training and my own lived experience. My journey has been shaped by navigating chronic illness, identity, and grief, experiences that allow me to sit with others not from a place of theory alone, but from a place of deep understanding. As an Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ therapist, my heart is in creating spaces where people feel truly seen and safe to bring their whole selves. If you’ve ever felt overlooked or misunderstood in traditional therapy, know that this is a space built with you in mind.
Your therapeutic experience with me
Therapy with me is about meeting you exactly where you are, without judgment, pressure, or the need to have it all figured out. I bring gentle guidance, collaborative exploration, and a trauma-informed lens to help you feel safe enough to be real. Whether you're unravelling old patterns, grieving a loss, exploring identity, or learning to live in a body that carries pain, I’ll walk alongside you with curiosity, care, and deep respect for your pace. You set the tone; I help you stay connected to yourself along the way. My goal is not to “fix” you, but to support you in reclaiming your voice, reconnecting with your strength, and finding new ways of being that feel more true to you.
Areas of expertise
These represent my core areas of expertise, backed by specialized training and extensive clinical experience.
2SLGBTQIA+
Grief, Loss, And Bereavement
Life Transitions
Grief (non Death)
Chronic Pain
Identity Exploration
I also provide skilled support in these additional areas and welcome clients seeking help with these concerns.
Chronic Illness
Anxiety & Worry
Depression
Burnout
Life Transitions And Identity Shifts
Mindfulness
Work/life Balance
Self-harm
Recovery
Substance Use/misuse
Grief Over Health Losses
Self-esteem & Self-worth
Coping Skills
Stress
Therapeutic approaches
These are my primary therapeutic approaches, backed by specialized training and extensive clinical experience.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
I use ACT to help clients make space for difficult thoughts and emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Together, we explore what truly matters to you-your values, identity, hopes-and support you in taking meaningful steps aligned with those values, even when life feels uncertain or painful. ACT helps clients build psychological flexibility, so instead of fighting inner experiences, they can begin to live more fully and authentically, right here, as they are.
Person-centered Therapy
Person-centred therapy is at the heart of how I work. I offer a space where you’re met with empathy, honesty, and unconditional positive regard, so you can show up just as you are. This approach trusts that you already hold the wisdom you need. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you reconnect with your inner voice, values, and capacity for growth, at your own pace.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy invites you to see your story from new perspectives. Together, we explore the stories you tell about yourself, especially the ones that may feel limiting or painful, and gently rewrite them in ways that honour your strengths and resilience. This approach helps you reclaim authorship of your life, making space for hope, meaning, and identity that feels authentic and empowering.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing helps you explore your own reasons for change in a non-judgmental, supportive way. Together, we uncover your values and goals, gently resolving any mixed feelings or doubts that might be holding you back. This approach meets you where you are, empowering you to find your own motivation and take meaningful steps forward, at your own pace.
I also incorporate these evidence-based approaches when clinically appropriate:
Somatic Therapy
Mindfulness
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Emotion-focused Therapy (EFT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Attachment Focused Therapy
Trauma-informed Therapy
Existential Therapy
Integrative
Collaborative Therapy
Client communities & cultural expertise
These are the client communities and cultural backgrounds I have specialized experience supporting.
Client populations I serve
Youth And Young Adults
Adults
People Facing Chronic Illness Or Pain
Neurodivergent Clients
2SLGBTQIA Community
Cultural expertise
Indigenous Community
BIPOC
2SLGBTQ+
Professional credentials
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
- No.3664
Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada
Educational background
Counselling Therapist Private Practice with Academic Distinction
Focus: Counselling Therapist
Stenberg College, Canada
Social Service Worker Professional With Honours
Focus: Addiction and Youth
CDI College, Canada
Specialized training
Trauma-Focused ACT
Psychwire
ACT for Beginners
Psychwire
Motivational Interviewing Foundations
Psychwire
Motivational Interviewing for Addiction
Psychwire
Practice locations & services
FAQ
Did you know?
I believe you are not broken, you’re becoming. Healing means reconnecting with your strength and truth, not fixing who you are.
I’m a lifelong learner, always growing my skills in trauma, grief, and identity-affirming care to better support those I work with.
Nature is my reset. You’ll often find me by the water or in the forest, reconnecting with the land, my breath, and what matters.
Therapy with me is human, not clinical. You don’t have to be perfect, just real. I’ll meet you there.
I started this work because I couldn’t find the kind of support I needed. My own experiences with chronic illness, grief, and identity shaped my path.
Immediate crisis support available
If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available right now:
- 🚨 Call 911 for immediate emergency assistance
- 💬 Call or text 988 for mental health crisis support and suicide prevention