- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- EMDR work
About Donna
Donna Coakley is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 26 years of experience. She holds LPC credentials in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and LCPC in Maryland. Donna works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, addictions, relationship and family concerns, sleep problems, and parenting challenges.
She uses practical conversation and active listening to help people sort through difficult feelings. Sessions focus on what is happening now and on steps a person can try between meetings. Donna draws on approaches such as cognitive behavioral work, client-centered methods, DBT skills, EMDR, and mindfulness to guide those conversations.
Donna has a history of working with military members and their families across branches for more than a decade. That background informs how she talks about trauma, transition, and the stresses of service life. She also addresses a wide range of other issues, including addiction, domestic violence, forgiveness, and guilt and shame.
In sessions she emphasizes clear goals and practical tools. People can expect a mix of talk, skill practice, and sometimes structured exercises aimed at changing unhelpful patterns. The tone is direct but not clinical - focused on making gradual, usable changes.
To get started people are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule an initial appointment. Costs vary by location and a subscription can be canceled at any time.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's own perspective. The therapist listens closely and follows what matters most to the client, helping clarify goals and choices. This approach fits well for concerns like low self-esteem, relationship struggles, and parenting stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep trouble, and some addiction patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness; it can be useful when strong emotional reactions or relationship conflicts are present.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Donna will collaborate with each person to choose which approaches to try, check how they are working, and adjust plans based on goals and preferences. The process is shared and flexible rather than fixed.
Confirm the current session formats before booking so you know what is offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, shorten commute time, and allow brief check-ins when a full in-person visit is hard to schedule. Some people prefer phone conversations when bandwidth is limited or video when visual cues help the work; discuss those options when you set up your first session.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, addictions, relationship and family issues, sleep and parenting problems. Additional focuses include guilt and shame, forgiveness, and substance and process addictions.
How does she approach shame or guilt in sessions?
She combines client-centered conversation with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness to help people talk through painful self-judgment. EMDR and DBT skills may be used when relevant to process trauma or intense emotions.
What is her background and experience?
She has 26 years of clinical experience and more than ten years working with military members and their families. That work included addressing trauma, transition stress, and related concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is LCPC in Maryland and an LPC in the District of Columbia and Virginia, practicing from the District of Columbia.
In which languages can I speak with her?
Sessions are offered in English.
Will she work with international clients?
She accepts international clients. Confirm any time zone or regulatory details when you book.
How are sessions scheduled and what does cost look like?
Costs vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Check the subscription terms for details before booking.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your initial appointment through the platform.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.