Donna Welles

Donna Welles is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts with 13 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and anger. Donna emphasizes each person's strengths and works alongside them to make gradual change.

She believes clients know their stories best and brings a respectful, listening approach to sessions. Donna supports people who are coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, relationship concerns, grief, and issues around intimacy. She also addresses challenges like sleep and eating disruptions, impulsivity, and problems with focus or motivation.

Donna uses client-centered methods to keep sessions grounded in the client's goals. She also integrates elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which emphasizes skills for managing emotions, and mindfulness practices to calm the body and sharpen awareness. These approaches are used to help people reduce reactivity and build safer responses to stress.

Her work often includes practical tools for communication, managing mood swings, and handling anger more effectively. Donna helps clients set small, achievable steps and practices between sessions. She aims to make therapy feel usable in everyday life rather than abstract.

People coming to therapy with trauma, grief, ADHD, or complex mood concerns can expect steady support and clear strategies. Donna encourages collaborative planning so each person leaves with concrete next steps and a sense of progress.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Donna integrates client-centered care, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness into her online work. Client-centered care means sessions focus on the client's priorities and pace, with the therapist listening and reflecting to help people find their own solutions. DBT offers concrete skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal behavior, which can be practiced between sessions. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase calm.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Donna will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, and then try strategies that fit the person's life. She adjusts the balance of skills work, reflective listening, and mindfulness based on what the client needs.

Please confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, and reduce travel time so sessions are more consistent. Many people find it simpler to practice DBT skills and mindfulness exercises between sessions when therapy fits into everyday life.