Donna Smith, LCSW

Donna Smith is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and trauma. She offers calm, direct support for common problems parents and caregivers notice when life gets overwhelming.

Donna brings 38 years of experience across medical and psychiatric settings to her work. That background means she is used to helping people who are coping with trauma and abuse, as well as stress tied to medical problems or work. She also focuses on postpartum depression and the effects of prejudice and discrimination.

In sessions she uses practical, evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and client-centered methods. That looks like setting clear goals, trying small behavioral experiments, and noticing patterns that keep problems active.

Donna also draws on mindfulness techniques and narrative ideas to help people change unhelpful stories about themselves. She can incorporate Gottman Method ideas when relationship communication is a concern. The work aims to be straightforward and action-oriented while staying respectful of each person's pace.

Clients typically describe getting simple tools to manage strong feelings and step-by-step plans for change. Donna helps people practice new skills between sessions so progress can carry into daily life.

Approaches you can use in online sessions

Donna commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. ACT helps people notice thoughts without being driven by them and clarify values to guide choices.

She also practices client-centered therapy, which emphasizes listening closely and following the client's lead. Together the therapist and client decide which mix of approaches fits best based on needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process makes it easier to try new techniques and adjust as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth sessions and nonverbal cues, phone can be a simpler way to check in, live chat works for brief focused exchanges, and text messaging supports ongoing check-ins and reminders. These options offer flexible ways to fit therapy into a busy life and keep work moving between sessions.