Donna Smith

Donna Smith is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 35 years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy challenges, addiction concerns, trauma and abuse, and issues related to LGBT identity. Donna aims to create a trusting, nonjudgmental connection and supports clients who want to improve their quality of life and cope with major changes.

Donna trained at the University of Rochester and has worked across many mental health settings. She prefers one-on-one work and describes her role as a guide who joins clients in partnership. Sessions focus on practical steps, honest conversation, and exploring what matters most to each person.

Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. That mix lets her blend skill teaching, emotional reflection, and values-based planning to address problems like anger, low self-esteem, ADHD challenges, and compassion fatigue.

Donna also brings a creative interest in writing into her work. She often uses narrative and personal storytelling to help people make sense of their experiences and to imagine a different future. The therapist emphasizes collaboration and helps clients set goals that fit their daily lives.

People who reach out are invited to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to availability. Donna asks clients to consider the changes they want and is ready to walk alongside them during that process.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online work

Donna blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy in clear, practical ways. ACT helps people clarify what matters to them and take small committed steps toward those values. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing different responses to improve mood and functioning. Client-centered work emphasizes listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship so the client feels heard and understood.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That plan can change over time as progress is made or new issues arise.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the current options before booking. Many people find remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives - for example, a shorter check-in can be done between commitments, or sessions can be scheduled around work and family routines. Online work also allows continued support when schedules or travel make in-person visits difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT and CBT techniques to work well in conversation, exercises, and between-session practice.