Donna Coakley is a licensed counselor with 26 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns.
01About Donna
Donna Coakley is a licensed counselor with 26 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. She practices in the District of Columbia and works with adults on issues like ADHD, addictions, trauma, and parenting stress. Donna holds MD, LCPC, and LPC credentials and brings a calm, nonjudgmental presence to sessions.
She keeps sessions warm and interactive. Conversations focus on practical steps people can use between meetings.
Background and approach
Donna avoids labels and treats each person with respect and compassion. She shapes therapy around what the client needs in the moment. Donna blends several approaches to fit real life problems.
She uses client-centered methods to follow the person's goals. Cognitive behavioral techniques help identify unhelpful thoughts and build new patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy skills address intense emotions and relationship strain.
For trauma-related concerns she incorporates eye movement desensitization and reprocessing along with mindfulness practices that encourage body awareness and grounding. Motivational interviewing can help people ready to change substance or behavior patterns. Her background includes long-term work with military-affiliated individuals and many people coping with grief, shame, or post-traumatic stress.
Sessions aim to be practical, goal-focused, and paced to each person's comfort. Donna partners with clients to set clear steps and adjust the plan as progress is made.
02Credentials
- LPC (District of Columbia)
- License PRC1370 · expires October 2026
- LCPC (Maryland)
- License LC0875 · expires January 2028
- LPC (Virginia)
- License 0701011757 · expires June 2026
- NPI
- 1780822148 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the counselor lists and checks neither.
03Focus areas and approaches
Everything Donna lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- ADHD
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Communication problems
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Jealousy
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
Methods Donna names
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
These are the methods Donna names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
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04Online support
Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care
Donna often uses client-centered therapy, which means sessions follow the person's priorities and the therapist listens closely to what matters most. This style helps when someone needs a supportive space to sort feelings and set goals.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to spot unhelpful thought patterns and practice new behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and patterns that get in the way of daily life. Dialectical behavior therapy provides concrete skills for emotion regulation and improving communication during conflict or intense moments.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Donna collaborates with each person to choose or combine methods based on goals and comfort. She adjusts techniques as progress is made so the plan fits the client's needs and preferences.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is helpful for longer sessions and visual connection. Phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in is needed. Chat and messaging let people share updates between sessions and fit therapy into a busy day. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent and flexible around life.
05Questions people ask
What concerns does Donna commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, trauma and intimacy-related issues, along with family and parenting strains.
What is her general therapy style?
Her approach is warm and interactive, focusing on respect and practical steps. She combines client-centered listening with active skill teaching.
How many years has she practiced?
Donna has 26 years of clinical experience supporting people with mood concerns, trauma, and behavior change.
Where is she licensed and based?
She practices in the District of Columbia and lists credentials as MD, LCPC, and LPC.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Donna also accepts international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.
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