Debra Alper, LCSW
Divorce Recovery and Relationship Therapist
I have known Debra since 2015. We met through one of my DGS trusted professionals, who wanted us to connect because we were both divorced, and we were both in the business of helping divorced women and men.
I got to know Debra, and liked and respected her so much, that I asked her to become a writer/contributor for Divorced Girl Smiling. It was through Debra’s articles that I realized what a truly great therapist she was. As I would read her insight and advice, I felt like I myself was benefitting from Debra’s articles!
I am so excited to have Debra as one of our Divorced Girl Smiling trusted professionals, and I would highly recommend her!
FounderDivorced Girl Smiling
About Debra
Debra Alper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Chicago and via telehealth, specializing in relational therapy, emotional abuse in relationships and divorce recovery. She has worked extensively since 1999 with:
- Individual clients striving to experience deeper, more meaningful relationships.
- Couples in the midst of marital crisis around infidelity and unhappy, lonely relationships.
- Clients in the throes of emotionally abusive relationships feeling stuck.
- Clients struggling to get through the emotional and life-changing hurdles of pre and post-divorce.
Debra received her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago. She has received specialized training in Gottman Marital Therapy, Attachment Theory, Harville Hendrix Imago Therapy, and she participated in a yearlong weekly seminar from the University of Chicago on Psychodynamic Theory.
Debra has volunteered with various literacy organizations around Chicago, most recently working with Sit Stay Read, combining her passion for reading, children and dogs. Debra resides in Chicago living happily 3 blocks away from her only daughter and sharing her home with her beloved micro mini Bernadoodle, Gracie. When Debra is not working, or dog walking, you can find her at her favorite yoga class, taking a long walk on the lakefront, traveling (preferably in Italy), or at a farmers market.
