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LMHC

Donna Smith, LMHC

  • Experience35 years
  • LocationNew York
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, LGBT, and Relationship
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Donna

Donna Smith is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 35 years of clinical experience.

Background and approach

She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, ADHD, and related issues such as attachment, codependency, and communication difficulties. Donna also works with LGBT clients and addresses specialized topics like gender dysphoria, aging and geriatric concerns, and bipolar disorder.

Her approach blends evidence-based therapies with a warm, client-centered stance that invites collaboration and personal meaning-making. Donna draws on methods such as Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy while emphasizing compassion, curiosity, and practical skills.

She frames therapy as a partnership in which she offers guidance, clinical expertise, and a space to explore the stories that shape a person’s life. Outside of clinical work, Donna brings a longtime interest in creative writing to her practice, viewing narrative and self-expression as useful tools for growth.

She invites prospective clients to begin a therapeutic journey together, tailoring the path to each person’s goals and preferences.

Integrating therapeutic approaches for online work

Donna uses Internal Family Systems to help clients notice and relate to different parts of themselves, which can be useful for understanding conflicting feelings, inner critics, and patterns that repeat in relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another approach she applies; it emphasizes identifying personal values and learning skills to act in ways that support those values while accepting difficult thoughts and emotions. Client-Centered Therapy informs her overall stance, offering genuine empathy, active listening, and a nonjudgmental presence to support clients as they explore their concerns.

Finding the right mix of methods is presented as a collaborative process. She will work with clients to determine which approaches feel most useful based on their goals, preferences, and the issues they bring, adapting techniques over time as needs change.

Online therapy with Donna is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make scheduling more flexible for varied routines and time zones. These formats support ongoing work between sessions and allow clients to access consistent care from wherever they are in New York. The variety of options helps clients maintain continuity of care while fitting therapy into their daily lives.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Donna commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting concerns, ADHD, and other problems listed in her specialties.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Donna practices in a collaborative, client-centered manner that combines empathy with practical skills to help clients clarify values and make sustainable changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Donna brings 35 years of experience working across mental health settings and one-on-one therapy, focusing on improving quality of life and personal growth.
What credentials and location are listed for her?
She is a licensed mental health counselor, NY LMHC 001003, and practices from New York.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Clients can work with her through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and availability.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided via a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule an appointment according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesGriefDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English