Donna SmithLCSW

Donna Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She is direct and compassionate, and she focuses on practical ways to ease daily struggles. People turn to her when life feels overwhelming, including during and after pregnancy. Donna has spent most of her career working in medical and psychiatric settings. That background gives her experience with stress tied to medical problems and with complex trauma from childhood or later life. She also supports people dealing with relationship strain, family conflict, and prejudice or discrimination. In sessions she listens closely and helps people name what feels most difficult. She uses straightforward tools drawn from cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based approaches to change unhelpful thoughts and to build valued routines. Mindfulness techniques are offered to reduce reactivity and improve calm in the moment. Donna also draws on client-centered principles, meeting each person where they are and shaping work around individual goals. For relationship concerns she integrates elements of the Gottman Method to address communication and connection between partners. Her style is practical and steady. She helps clients break problems into small steps and practice new ways of coping. This approach can be useful for postpartum depression and for the emotional fallout of trauma and discrimination.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values despite difficult thoughts or feelings. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and mood concerns by focusing on purposeful action rather than getting stuck in unhelpful thinking. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going. It often involves homework and practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention practices to reduce reactivity and increase calm, which can help during the perinatal period and with trauma recovery.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that fit each person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress is made. Clients and the therapist review what helps and refine the plan together.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, or offering options that do not require being on camera. These practical benefits often help people maintain consistent care alongside medical appointments, work, or parenting obligations.