About ME
About Me
Debbie Briem, DSW, MA, LMFT
I began my work in the non-profit sector in program leadership, overseeing and developing initiatives serving both adults and youth. This included building programs designed to support families and youth navigating complex environments. This early experience shaped my understanding of how structural relationships and systems influence outcomes over time.
I later transitioned into clinical work, beginning in substance use treatment while I closely worked with individuals and families in high-stakes and often complex situations. Across these settings, I developed a grounded understanding of how change unfolds - not only within the individual, but also within families and the broader environment, and that sustain patterns over time.
My work has continued to evolve within multidisciplinary treatment settings, where I collaborate across teams and support individuals and families, navigating periods of instability, transition, and repair. This experience is further informed by my perspective on how clinical, familial, and organizational systems shape the course of care and influence outcomes.
As my perspective deepened, I pursued advanced clinical training and then later a Doctorate in Social Work, expanding my understanding of the social, cultural, and general relational forces that influence emotional relational functioning.
Today, my work integrates this foundation, combining real-world, clinical experience, systems, awareness, and structure, and a relational approach to supporting meaningful and sustainable change
How I Work
My approach is relational, structured, and responsive to the needs of each individual or family situation, and therapeutic work, processing emotional pain, addressing trauma, or pacing relationships.
Other situations benefit from a more focused, forward-oriented approach, clarifying direction, strengthening decision-making, and improving day-to-day functioning. collaboratively.
My work is informed by trying to focus on relational and cognitive behavioral frameworks, through and includes an awareness of psychiatric medication, considerations as part of a broader treatment context when relevant. I work collaboratively, helping clients understand patterns while also identifying practical ways to shift them. This also includes not only looking at individual behavior, but also at the relational and environmental context in which those patterns persist. I also provide consultative support for complex dynamics in high-stakes decisions.