About Donna
Donna Kaufman is a licensed clinical social worker in New York with 14 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, self-esteem problems, and major life changes. Donna also supports those dealing with addictions, eating concerns, parenting stress, and family issues.
She keeps sessions straightforward and compassionate. Donna encourages open conversation so clients can say what they really feel. She aims to reduce shame and increase practical coping skills in day-to-day life.
Background and approach
Donna uses a mix of approaches to fit each person. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients clarify values and make meaningful changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to notice unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques help with emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Her work also incorporates client-centered listening and narrative ideas to help people make sense of their stories. Sessions focus on skills, real-life strategies, and small steps that build confidence.
People who come for help often want clearer communication, steadier moods, and less overwhelm. Donna offers a calm, direct style and practical tools to try between sessions. She supports clients as they practice new ways of coping and relating to themselves and others.
Therapeutic approaches that translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. It can be useful for anxiety, life changes, and low motivation.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. It offers concrete exercises and homework that are easy to use during video or phone sessions for problems like anxiety, mood shifts, and body image concerns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved communication. Short skills coaching or check-ins by text or chat can reinforce these tools between sessions.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and daily life, then suggest one or a blend of methods to try. Clients and the therapist review what helps and adjust the plan together.
Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video lets people work face-to-face from wherever they are. Phone sessions can fit into a busy day or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text are useful for quick check-ins, skill practice, or when someone prefers writing to speaking.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Addictions
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 14 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English