Debra "Debs" Barritt

Debra “Debs” Barritt is a counsellor whose work is driven by a clear passion for helping people. Alongside her counselling for BetterHelp, she also runs a private practice, which can be found by visiting ‘adapt counselling haverhill’.

Originally trained in person-centred counselling, she places community and human connection at the centre of her practice. She welcomes meeting new people and values the opportunity to make a positive difference in their lives. Having grown up in a broken home and attended a boarding school for ‘maladjusted’ children, she understands the kinds of challenges life can present.

Her difficult childhood inspired her to give back, leading her to study for a certificate in part-time youth work at Brunel University. She has 15 years of experience and brings extensive experience supporting people through bereavement alongside work with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns and other life challenges. She is a mother to two sons and a grandmother to two grandchildren, and she often jokes that she hardly looks old enough for that role.

Debs now lives in Haverhill, though she formerly ran a private practice in Basingstoke and retains fond connections there. Her counselling training began in the bereavement service at St Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke, where sitting beside people at the end of life - sometimes simply holding a hand or stroking an arm - was a profound privilege. Those experiences shaped her approach and left her with many stories of solace and support.

She has a wealth of experience helping people navigate the searing pain of loss. While no one can bring a loved one back, she supports clients in finding ways to hold them in their hearts and to move forward without feeling as if they must move on. Having come through her own hardships, she describes herself as a survivor rather than a victim and aims to bring hope to those she works with. Prospective clients are invited to get in touch to learn more about how she can help.