Debbie Woodall Carroll
Offering Intensive Couples Therapy in Cincinnati, Ohio
Licensed Professional Counselor
Ohio: #E.05001243
Personally Speaking
I’ve always admired people who could play the piano. It felt like a secret language—something beautiful and a little mysterious. No one in my family played an instrument, so when I met my husband, a talented pianist, I was mesmerized. I watched his hands move across the keys and thought, I want to learn that.
Despite years of lessons, my fingers still don’t move like his—but I keep at it. That’s kind of how I approach relationships too: with persistence, curiosity, and the belief that growth is always possible, even when it doesn’t come easily.
There was a recently discovered infidelity. Although the conversations we had were very difficult, they were vital in getting us on a path to healing. Debbie Woodall Carroll guided the conversations very gently and helped us feel safe having them. We have learned to address issues head on as they arise rather than waiting and hoping they get better. If you are committed to making your relationship work, it is 1000% worth the tough days ahead.
Practice Values
When a couple walks into my office and can’t look at each other, I don’t take sides—I build bridges.
Both partners need to feel heard, respected, and safe. That’s where we begin. I set clear expectations: no name-calling, no swearing. You can argue, but you need to stay human while doing it.
I believe couples pick up on whether their therapist believes in them—and that belief can change everything. Even if you walk in feeling hopeless, I won’t carry that hopelessness for you. I’ll help you see what’s possible.
And if there’s something in the way—defensiveness, hurt, blame—we’ll deal with it gently, but directly. My job is to help you move forward, not stay stuck.
Home Life
I’m in my second marriage, and my husband and I are now empty nesters. Together, we have four children—three sons and a daughter—each born just a year apart. They all live nearby, and we spend a lot of time with them and their partners.
Being part of a blended family has shaped how I understand relationships. I know firsthand how hard it can be when things don’t click, and how tempting it is to walk away when it gets too hard. But I also know the deep value of a committed partner who shows up—not just when things are easy, but especially when they’re not.
If You Work With Me
Expect clarity. Kindness. Structure. And hope. We won’t gloss over the hard stuff. But we’ll face it in a way that leaves you both feeling stronger—not smaller. You’ll walk out with new tools, renewed confidence, and maybe for the first time in a while… the sense that you’re on the same team again.
My Approach
Weekend intensives aren’t about rushing—they’re about focus.
Over two days, we slow things down enough for you to hear what’s really being said. We look at the patterns that keep pulling you apart, and we practice new ways of responding—with less blame, more clarity, and greater emotional safety.
You’ll learn skills to take home, but more than that, you’ll leave with a different way of relating—less reactive, more open, and more willing to try again. In intensive couples therapy, we’re not rushing—but we’re not wasting time either.
Over the course of a weekend, you’ll learn how your patterns formed, how you’re both contributing to them, and—most importantly—how to break free of them. We’ll practice new ways of speaking, listening, and showing up for each other.
When you feel your partner finally gets you—or when you understand their silence in a new way—it changes everything. There’s often a moment when one partner realizes, I’ve been misunderstanding you for years.
That moment? That’s the turning point.
Why Couples Work Matters to Me
I didn’t start my career as a counselor. I spent some time in the corporate world, then stayed home to raise my sons. It was during that season—watching people I cared about struggle in their relationships—that I felt drawn to this work.
When I sat with my first couple in session, something clicked. I loved hearing both sides, helping them find each other again beneath the blame and hurt. I still do.
Outside the Office
My happy place? Curled up with a good mystery novel and my dog, Cooper—who I like to call my own personal therapy dog. I also love playing golf (badly), traveling, reading, and—yes—still practicing the piano.
I look forward to working with you in Cincinnati!
