Donna Sarvela, LCSW

Donna Sarvela is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and depression. She frames the first visits around what matters most to the person sitting across from her. Her tone is practical and supportive, aimed at people looking for clear steps and steady encouragement.

She has 13 years of clinical experience working with problems that often overlap, such as mood disorders, substance use, codependency, and family of origin issues. Sessions focus on understanding patterns that keep a problem going and trying small, manageable changes. Donna emphasizes strengths people already have and builds on those skills.

Her work commonly draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. She also uses client-centered listening and mindfulness practices to help people notice their experience and calm intense emotions. Motivational interviewing is part of how she helps people make decisions and commit to change.

People who struggle with guilt, shame, impulsivity, isolation, or who are looking to stop smoking or vaping may find concrete strategies in sessions. She also addresses trauma, domestic violence impacts, and self-harm concerns with careful pacing and attention to safety.

Donna offers online formats so therapy can fit into busy lives. She encourages anyone ready to take a first step to match with a therapist and try an initial session to see how the fit feels.

Approaches and online therapy that fit your day

Donna commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes. CBT is practical and works well for anxiety, mood challenges, and habits like smoking or substance use. She also practices client-centered therapy, which means sessions start from what the person says and move at their pace while the therapist listens and reflects.

Mindfulness therapy appears in sessions as simple attention practices and breathing work to reduce overwhelm. These short exercises help people notice feelings without acting on them immediately and can be useful alongside other strategies. Choosing the right approach is part of the work together; Donna will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences and adjust as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer weekly sessions and visual connection. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text work well for brief check-ins, homework support, or people who prefer writing to speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and travel schedules.