- Years in practice
- 35
- Credentials
- LMHC
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- LGBT
- Focus
- Relationship issues
About Donna
Donna Smith is a licensed mental health counselor with 35 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, and issues related to identity and trauma. Donna welcomes conversations about self-esteem, anger, ADHD, and compassion fatigue as well.
She practices in New York and works in English. Donna favors a straightforward, collaborative style. She listens first, then offers practical tools and steps people can try between sessions.
Background and approach
Sessions often include talking through choices, learning skills to manage strong feelings, and trying simple exercises to shift unhelpful patterns. Writing and personal storytelling are also part of her approach when clients find that useful. Her background includes a master's-level counselor education and long experience across mental health settings.
Donna describes her role as a guide who partners with clients to clarify values and goals. That partnership aims to help people move toward the life they imagine rather than prescribing a single path. Clinical approaches she uses include acceptance and commitment techniques, cognitive behavioral strategies, emotion-focused work, dialectical behavior skills, and a client-centered stance.
She adapts methods to fit each person’s situation and priorities. The focus is practical change and increased day-to-day functioning. Sessions are available by several online formats.
Donna notes that she values a warm, hope-focused connection and will work with each person to choose what feels most helpful for them.
What Donna works with
Everything Donna lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Donna helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Donna lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Donna’s Approaches Work Online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most and take small, values-guided steps toward those goals. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and when people feel stuck or unsure about next steps.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical exercises. This approach is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and managing strong emotions through concrete skill practice.
Donna also uses client-centered therapy, which prioritizes listening and building a trusting partnership so clients feel heard and understood as they set their own goals.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Donna will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time and checks in to ensure the plan feels useful.
Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls allow more face-to-face interaction for skills teaching and emotional processing. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a calmer check-in is needed. Live chat or text messaging can support brief check-ins, homework review, or ongoing skill practice between longer sessions. These choices make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep continuity between meetings.
Questions people ask about Donna
What concerns does Donna commonly address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and identity concerns including LGBT matters.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Donna takes a collaborative and straightforward approach, listening first and then offering practical steps and skills to try between sessions.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
Donna has 35 years of experience working in a range of mental health settings and focuses on one-on-one work to help people enhance their quality of life.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, listed as NY LMHC, and practices in New York.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not accepted.
In what formats can sessions take place?
Sessions can be held by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to client preference.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on the therapist's availability.
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