Debbie Whittam
LPC, LLC, Grief Specialist, CADPC, CCDPC
Finding Connection and Inspiration Following The Pandemic and What We Are Left With.
Debra Whittam is a licensed, practicing mental health therapist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who specializes in addiction, anxiety, depression and grief and loss. Whittam is passionate about her work in all of her specialties, especially grief which she believes, is the origins of most untreated mental illness and untreated addiction.
Working in a detox unit for over three years before beginning her own private practice, Whittam realized, while counseling patients in the life and death arena of the detox unit, how much the loss of a beloved through death or a relationship impacted those struggling with addiction. Debra wrote about her own life experiences and the impact of what is passed down through the generations without blame.
In her latest book, “Everything That’s Been Waiting”, Whittam skillfully infuses her memories, stories and professional insights to remind us that the most important relationship we’ll ever have is with ourselves. And, “The most powerful form of intimacy is honesty”. With honesty comes an opening of all that’s been waiting and we grow closer.
Debra’s first book, “Am I Going To Be Okay? Weathering the Storms of Mental Illness, Addiction and Grief” addresses the three most important issues everyone experiences but NO ONE talks about. Debra does speaking engagements and book events to get the conversations started on these topics that are universal and generational.
Most recently Debra has begun a podcast called "Hope and Truth" which centers on how the Pandemic and COVID impacted those she interviews. She has spoken with Kindergarten teachers torn from their tender little ones in the second half of that grade. It was right at the time when bonding was forming. She spoke with Mental Health professionals and Addiction specialists, like herself, who observed alcoholics and addicts struggle to cope with the lockdown, especially when the liquor stores were shut down.
The most important parts of Debra's work as a therapist, speaker and facilitator are her lived experiences with what most everyone struggles with. Here she meets her client, her audience, her peers in forming a common bond of Hope and Truth. Debra companions with those who are in need knowing how to survive and survive well.
Debra splits her time between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York and Paris, France.
Debra Whittam is a licensed, practicing mental health therapist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who specializes in addiction, anxiety, depression and grief and loss. Whittam is passionate about her work in all of her specialties, especially grief which she believes, is the origins of most untreated mental illness and untreated addiction.
Working in a detox unit for over three years before beginning her own private practice, Whittam realized, while counseling patients in the life and death arena of the detox unit, how much the loss of a beloved through death or a relationship impacted those struggling with addiction. Debra wrote about her own life experiences and the impact of what is passed down through the generations without blame.
In her latest book, “Everything That’s Been Waiting”, Whittam skillfully infuses her memories, stories and professional insights to remind us that the most important relationship we’ll ever have is with ourselves. And, “The most powerful form of intimacy is honesty”. With honesty comes an opening of all that’s been waiting and we grow closer.
Debra’s first book, “Am I Going To Be Okay? Weathering the Storms of Mental Illness, Addiction and Grief” addresses the three most important issues everyone experiences but NO ONE talks about. Debra does speaking engagements and book events to get the conversations started on these topics that are universal and generational.
Most recently Debra has begun a podcast called "Hope and Truth" which centers on how the Pandemic and COVID impacted those she interviews. She has spoken with Kindergarten teachers torn from their tender little ones in the second half of that grade. It was right at the time when bonding was forming. She spoke with Mental Health professionals and Addiction specialists, like herself, who observed alcoholics and addicts struggle to cope with the lockdown, especially when the liquor stores were shut down.
The most important parts of Debra's work as a therapist, speaker and facilitator are her lived experiences with what most everyone struggles with. Here she meets her client, her audience, her peers in forming a common bond of Hope and Truth. Debra companions with those who are in need knowing how to survive and survive well.
Debra splits her time between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York and Paris, France.
