- Years in practice
- 11
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- New Jersey
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Eating disorders
About Nicole
Dr. Nicole Donato is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in New Jersey. She brings 11 years of clinical experience and a strong academic background in psychology to her work.
Nicole aims to make therapy straightforward and practical for people feeling overwhelmed by parenting and life stressors. She uses client-centered methods to build a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. That means she listens closely and tries to understand each person's experience before suggesting next steps.
Background and approach
She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change patterns that feed anxiety or low mood. Nicole draws on motivational interviewing to support people who want to change behaviors but feel stuck. She also draws from psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences influence current feelings and reactions.
These different approaches are mixed to match each person's needs and goals. Her background includes work in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, outpatient therapy, and a foster family agency, and she currently teaches at the college level. That mix of clinical and teaching work shapes a practical, evidence-informed style that focuses on clear steps and real-life problems.
She offers online sessions through video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging. People who are balancing parenting demands, work stress, relationship questions, or recovery from addiction or loss often find the flexible online formats helpful. Nicole encourages a collaborative process where clients set goals and she helps map the path to reach them.
What Nicole works with
Everything Nicole lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Nicole helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Nicole lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Nicole’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy is about building a collaborative relationship. Nicole listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps people name their priorities so sessions stay focused on what matters most. This approach is useful when someone needs emotional support while juggling parenting or life transitions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Online CBT sessions often include identifying negative self-talk, testing unhelpful beliefs, and practicing new behaviors between meetings to reduce anxiety or low mood. That practical work fits well into short video or phone check-ins.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Nicole will discuss options, try techniques, and adjust based on the client's goals and preferences. Treatment is collaborative, with the client guiding which issues to tackle first and how quickly to move.
Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversations when time and bandwidth allow. Phone sessions work well when a quieter setting or lower bandwidth is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework, or when a written format feels easier. These options offer flexibility while keeping the focus on practical steps and steady progress.
Questions people ask about Nicole
What concerns does she address related to parenting?
Nicole helps people manage parenting stress, work through family problems, and cope with life changes that affect caregiving roles. She also supports parents dealing with sleep, anger, and self-esteem issues.
What is her general therapy style?
She blends a client-centered approach with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and motivational interviewing. Sessions focus on listening first, then using practical tools to change thoughts and behaviors.
What experience does she bring?
She has 11 years of professional experience across inpatient psychiatry, outpatient therapy, and work with a foster family agency, plus a college teaching role. That background shapes a practical, clinical perspective.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing from New Jersey. The credential appears as NJ LPC in her profile.
Which languages are supported and are international sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available online?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Clients can choose the format that works best for check-ins or longer conversations.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Session cost varies with location and therapist availability and is handled through a subscription model. The subscription can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Start by clicking the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that you can schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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