Stephanie Donley

Stephanie Donley is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, anger, and life transitions. She offers a calm, warm presence and practical guidance for day-to-day struggles. Her style is straightforward and kind, aimed at helping people feel heard and move forward.

Donley draws on cognitive behavioral ideas and client-centered, humanistic ways of working. She focuses on strengths, practical skills, and small changes that build better coping. Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with space to reflect on feelings and test new behaviors.

She has spent a decade in social work roles across care settings, including work with people facing cancer, bereavement, and end-of-life concerns. That background informs her approach when people face illness, caregiving strain, or major loss.

Donley describes her communication as warm and engaging. She avoids stigmatizing labels and aims to create a respectful atmosphere. While not presenting herself as an expert in LGBTQ+ experience, she states her practice is affirming.

Therapy with her typically mixes problem-solving and acceptance-based tools. She helps people explore values, build coping skills, and find new ways to think about chronic problems. The work is collaborative and paced to what each person needs.

How her approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to clarify their values and take committed steps toward them while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. It can help when anger, grief, or chronic stress get in the way of what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors to change mood and functioning. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleeping or eating problems, and coping skills for anger. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment skills such as breath awareness and grounding to reduce reactivity and build tolerance for strong emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as needed.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online therapy can make sessions easier to fit into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand. It can also let people use audio-only options when they prefer not to be on camera or choose a quieter setup that requires less bandwidth. Ask about session length and scheduling when you complete the matching questionnaire to find what works best for you.