- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and DBT techniques
- English and Spanish
About Anna
Anna McDonald is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with five years of masters-level social work experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, self-esteem struggles, depression, intimacy-related issues, career stress, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Anna also notes additional focus on communication problems, family of origin issues, forgiveness, guilt and shame, immigration challenges, isolation or loneliness, and perinatal concerns.
She uses a conversational, person-focused approach. Sessions center on what is happening now and what the client wants to change. Anna draws on Client-Centered Therapy to listen without judgment. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify thinking patterns and practical steps, and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for emotion regulation skills.
Her work includes techniques from the Gottman Method for relationship communication and Motivational Interviewing to strengthen commitment for change. In session she helps people talk through difficult decisions, repair communication, and set manageable goals. She pays attention to how family history and cultural factors shape feelings like guilt and shame.
Anna speaks English and Spanish. She practices in Minnesota and holds licensure in both Minnesota (LICSW) and Florida (LCSW). People who are navigating new parenthood, pregnancy and childbirth concerns, immigration stress, or career transitions may find her background relevant.
To begin, she asks people to describe their current concerns and what they hope to get from meeting. The first conversations are practical and focused on immediate coping steps and next actions.
How Anna’s approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so the person feels heard and understood; online sessions keep that same conversational focus while identifying what matters most to the client. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses simple exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns; this often translates well to remote sessions with worksheets and in-session practice. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions and building distress tolerance, which can be practiced and reviewed during online appointments.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Anna will discuss your concerns, goals, and preferences and then suggest which methods to try. That choice is collaborative and may change as you try different tools and see what helps you manage guilt, shame, or relationship strains.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm the available online options before booking. Many people find online meetings help fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it easier to work from a quieter room or during a break from work. Online sessions also let a client and therapist review worksheets, practice communication skills, and set concrete steps between meetings without needing to travel.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Florida, Minnesota
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of guilt or shame does she work with?
She lists forgiveness, family of origin issues, and guilt and shame among her focuses, so she works with feelings tied to family, relationships, and personal choices.
How does she approach feelings of guilt and shame?
She uses Client-Centered listening combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thoughts and behaviors, plus DBT skills to manage intense emotions.
What is her professional background?
She has five years of masters-level social work experience and 15 years of broader professional work experience before that.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds MN LICSW and FL LCSW credentials and practices in Minnesota.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. She is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.