Debbie Mankita LCSW

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative approach that helps people explore their own reasons for change. Rather than telling you what you should do, we work together to identify your goals, values, and motivations. This approach helps strengthen confidence, reduce ambivalence, and support meaningful changes that feel realistic and aligned with what matters most to you.

CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In therapy we identify patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, or other challenges and develop practical tools to shift them. This approach is structured and skill-focused, helping clients learn strategies they can apply in everyday life to improve mood, manage stress, and respond differently to difficult situations.

I help clients explore their relationship with substances or behaviors in a non-judgmental and practical way. Together we look at patterns, triggers, and the role these behaviors play in coping with stress or difficult emotions. Whether your goal is reducing harm, changing habits, or working toward recovery, we focus on building strategies that support healthier and more sustainable choices.

I work with people who want to better understand their relationship with substances or other behaviors that feel difficult to control. Together we explore the patterns, triggers, and underlying stressors that contribute to use. My approach focuses on building practical coping skills, strengthening motivation for change, and creating sustainable strategies that support long-term recovery and stability.

Anxiety can show up as constant worry, racing thoughts, panic, or feeling overwhelmed by everyday situations. I help clients understand what is driving their anxiety and develop tools to manage it more effectively. Our work may include identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, building coping strategies, and learning ways to calm the nervous system so anxiety no longer runs the show.

Depression can make even simple tasks feel exhausting and can leave people feeling stuck, disconnected, or hopeless. In therapy we work to understand the factors contributing to these feelings and identify realistic steps toward change. My approach focuses on building structure, reconnecting with meaningful activities, and developing skills that help improve mood and restore a sense of direction.