Deborah Hilyard, LMHC
Florida LMHC with 34 years experience
- Trauma and abuse care
- Military and family experience
- Client centered evidence based care
About Deborah Hilyard
Deborah K. Hilyard, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with 34 years of clinical experience. LMHC stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a credential that reflects extensive training and professional licensure. She earned a graduate degree in counseling from the University of Memphis in 1988 and gained early experience working in the campus career counseling office during her graduate studies.
Her career has included roles with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy family centers, where she helped create a transitional program for service members leaving the military and later provided mental health counseling to service members and their families. That work informed her understanding of the unique stresses experienced by military families, including separation-related relationship challenges and episodes of clinical depression when individuals feel a loss of control. Over the years she has worked frequently with anger, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, career challenges, and relationship issues.
Deborah has also worked within the foster care system conducting comprehensive assessments of children and their family environments, and she has supported victims of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and their loved ones. In recent years she has provided online counseling through Betterhelp, addressing a wide range of concerns.
Her counseling style is warm, interactive, and grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion. She avoids stigmatizing labels and adapts treatment to each person, drawing on client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, solution-focused strategies, rational-emotive approaches, EMDR, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic work, and trauma-focused therapy as appropriate. She tailors dialogue and care plans to meet each individual or family member's specific needs.
Seeking change often requires courage, and Deborah aims to support and empower people taking those first steps toward a more fulfilling life. She is not currently accepting new clients.
Her career has included roles with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy family centers, where she helped create a transitional program for service members leaving the military and later provided mental health counseling to service members and their families. That work informed her understanding of the unique stresses experienced by military families, including separation-related relationship challenges and episodes of clinical depression when individuals feel a loss of control. Over the years she has worked frequently with anger, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, career challenges, and relationship issues.
Deborah has also worked within the foster care system conducting comprehensive assessments of children and their family environments, and she has supported victims of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and their loved ones. In recent years she has provided online counseling through Betterhelp, addressing a wide range of concerns.
Her counseling style is warm, interactive, and grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion. She avoids stigmatizing labels and adapts treatment to each person, drawing on client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, solution-focused strategies, rational-emotive approaches, EMDR, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic work, and trauma-focused therapy as appropriate. She tailors dialogue and care plans to meet each individual or family member's specific needs.
Seeking change often requires courage, and Deborah aims to support and empower people taking those first steps toward a more fulfilling life. She is not currently accepting new clients.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Deborah Hilyard have?
Deborah Hilyard has 34 years of experience.
Is Deborah Hilyard a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LMHC. License details are FL LMHC MH4832.
In which languages does Deborah Hilyard provide therapy?
Therapy is provided in English.
Where is Deborah Hilyard located?
She is located in Florida.
How can I work with Deborah Hilyard as my therapist?
You can work with Deborah Hilyard through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Deborah Hilyard work with international clients?
Deborah Hilyard does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Deborah Hilyard cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Could Remote Counseling Be a Good Fit?
Many people wonder whether online therapy can make a meaningful difference. For a wide range of common concerns - including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and navigating life changes - online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions.One of the clearest advantages is flexibility. People can connect with a therapist in the format that suits them best - via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or in-app messaging - which can make it easier to integrate therapy into a busy schedule or to maintain continuity when life circumstances change.
Therapists offering remote services are licensed professionals, and many people find that switching to a different therapist is an option if they need a different therapeutic fit. Online therapy can provide accessible, evidence-informed support delivered by qualified practitioners, while offering the convenience of multiple ways to engage in care.