About Donna
Donna Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with forty years of experience offering steady, practical help for people feeling overwhelmed. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and struggles with addiction. Donna aims to create a calm, conversational space where people can talk through what matters most to them.
Her approach is straightforward and lived-in. She helps people identify small, concrete steps that improve mood and day-to-day functioning.
Background and approach
She often uses humor to shift perspective and reduce tension, and she points out how basic activities can lift mood by affecting natural brain chemistry. Sessions move at a pace set by the person in therapy, with attention to immediate concerns and longer-term goals.
Donna has a long history of working with LGBTQ+ people and pays close attention to cultural context and respect. She also focuses on caregiver stress, loneliness, impulsivity, forgiveness, life purpose, and recovering from trauma. Her work emphasizes self-love and practical ways to build emotional resilience.
People who choose Donna can expect collaborative conversations about realistic changes. She explains ideas plainly and helps people test strategies between sessions. Her background in social work informs an emphasis on strengths, daily routines, and coping tools that fit someone’s life.
Based in New York as an LCSW, Donna offers sessions in English and accepts international clients. She supports people who want steady guidance through mood problems, addictive behaviors, or a period of life change.
How evidence-based methods translate to online work
Donna draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on changing daily habits and thinking patterns. One common approach emphasizes behavioral strategies - identifying small actions people can take each day to raise mood and reduce anxiety. This method suits worries about low energy, low mood, or getting stuck in unhelpful routines.Another approach targets thoughts and attention by helping people notice and reframe negative thinking. That work teaches practical tools for managing rumination, impulsivity, and self-critical habits. These techniques are paired with exercises to build self-compassion and increase positive activities that support mood and recovery from trauma.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, try techniques in-session, and adjust methods over time. Clients shape the plan and test what helps most between meetings so the work fits their life and needs.
Online formats make this collaborative work easier to fit into busy lives. Video calls let people use visual cues and more in-depth conversation. Phone sessions can be lower bandwidth and work better when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick check-ins, homework prompts, or brief support between sessions. These options increase flexibility and help people keep consistent momentum toward their goals.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English