Donna Smith
Compassionate, experienced social worker for stress and trauma
LCSW Louisiana
- Experience
- 38 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Donna
Donna Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people face stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She uses straightforward language and practical steps to support people working through painful memories, relationship challenges, and the strain that comes from medical or work-related stress.
Background and approach
Her approach starts with listening closely to each person's story. She creates space for people to talk about what feels hard and to set clear, achievable goals.
Sessions focus on skills that can be used between appointments and on building coping strategies that fit daily life. Donna draws on several evidence-informed methods when appropriate.
She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people accept difficult feelings while taking steps that match their values. She also applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and to try more effective behavior.
The Gottman Method informs how she addresses relationship stress and communication patterns. Her background spans decades in medical and psychiatric settings, which shaped a practical, no-nonsense style.
That experience includes work with people who have post-traumatic stress, childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, depression, and occupational or medical stress. Donna pays attention to the extra strain that can follow childbirth and to harms caused by prejudice and discrimination.
She helps people develop concrete tools for daily life, manage symptoms, and make thoughtful changes that match their goals.
Therapeutic approaches and what online work looks like
Donna combines several practical approaches to address stress, trauma, and relationship strain. The Gottman Method focuses on improving communication and reducing conflict in close relationships by teaching specific interaction skills and repair techniques. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that reflect what matters to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thinking patterns and teaches concrete strategies to change thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety and depression.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your concerns, discuss options, and try methods that fit your goals and preferences. Together you can track progress and adjust techniques so they feel useful in day-to-day life.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let you work visually through exercises and role-plays, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for shorter check-ins, homework support, or when scheduling across a busy day. These options make it easier to keep regular sessions and apply skills between meetings.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
38+ years
Licensed in
Louisiana
Languages
English