- Client-centered focus
- Mindfulness practices
- Emotional skills training
About Donna
Donna Welles is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 13 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. She approaches therapy with respect for each person's story and strengths, and she aims to help people take the first steps toward change. Donna presents herself as a supportive guide rather than an expert who fixes problems for clients.
Donna uses a client-centered way of working that puts the person’s priorities first. Sessions focus on what matters most to the individual, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting back what she hears. She also draws on elements of dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness practices to teach emotional regulation and present-moment awareness.
Her clients often bring concerns related to coping with life changes, relationship struggles, grief, trauma and abuse, or compassion fatigue. Donna also addresses issues such as sleep and eating difficulties, parenting stress, anger, mood disorders, ADHD, and social anxiety. She pays attention to co-occurring challenges and communication problems that make day-to-day life harder.
In sessions Donna emphasizes practical skills and steady encouragement. She helps people identify small, doable steps and build on what is already working in their lives. The tone is collaborative and down-to-earth, with an eye toward improving functioning and feeling more connected to personal values.
Donna practices in Massachusetts and conducts work in English. To begin, prospective clients are asked to use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling according to therapist availability.
How Donna's Approaches Work Online
Client-centered therapy starts by placing the client's experience at the center of the work. The therapist listens closely, follows the client's lead, and helps people name what matters most. This approach is useful for stress, self-esteem issues, and life transitions because it builds on a person’s own strengths.Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, focuses on practical skills for managing strong emotions and improving relationships. It teaches skills like distress tolerance and emotion regulation that people can use between sessions. Mindfulness therapy encourages gentle attention to the present moment and helps reduce reactivity to stressful thoughts and feelings.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to figure out which methods fit a person's goals and preferences. Together they decide whether to focus more on skills training, reflective exploration, or mindfulness practice as therapy progresses.
Confirm the available session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific online formats. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time, and offer shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports practicing skills in real-life settings and applying techniques between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Donna help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, along with relationship and intimacy-related concerns. Other areas include trauma and abuse, grief, parenting stress, eating and sleeping problems, and mood or impulse difficulties.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Donna works from a client-centered approach that prioritizes the client's goals and experience. She also integrates DBT skills and mindfulness techniques to teach emotion regulation and present-moment focus.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 13 years of professional experience working with a range of mental health and life concerns.
Where is the therapist based and what are her credentials?
She practices in Massachusetts and holds an MA and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, shown as LICSW.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Check the scheduling information when you start the matching process.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.