John MacDonald is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in New Jersey with 11 years of clinical work.
01About John
John MacDonald is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in New Jersey with 11 years of clinical work. He focuses on practical help for everyday struggles so people can feel more able to move forward. He listens without judgment and helps people name what feels overwhelming.
Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with time spent on immediate coping skills and longer-term changes. John has worked in addiction counseling and has taught as an adjunct graduate professor of psychology.
Background and approach
Those roles shaped his interest in motivation, relapse prevention, and skills people can use between sessions. His areas of focus include stress and anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, self-esteem concerns, and support for LGBT issues. He also helps with career stress, grief, sleep problems, ADHD, and managing big life changes.
Approaches used in sessions include client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential questions about meaning, EMDR for trauma processing, and mindfulness practices to build calm and focus. John blends these tools to fit each person's situation and goals. He values straightforward feedback and practical exercises.
New clients can expect help making a plan, learning skills to manage symptoms, and checking on progress along the way.
02Credentials
- LPC (New Jersey)
- License 37PC00792000 · expires November 2026
- NPI
- 1598120958 · 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 John lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Methods John names
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
These are the methods John 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 and online options
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's experience without judgment; it helps people clarify values, build self-trust, and decide on next steps. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches skills to change unhelpful patterns that feed anxiety or depression. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that can help people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional charge when trauma is a central concern.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk about goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust based on what helps. That collaborative process lets the client shape which tools are used and when to change direction.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for flexibility. Video calls let people work face to face from wherever they are, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a camera feels too much, and brief check-ins by chat or text help keep momentum between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, or other routines while still using the clinical approaches described above.
05Questions people ask
What issues does John help address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, self-esteem, LGBT concerns, relationship and family issues, grief, sleep problems, career stress, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related challenges.
How would you describe his therapy style?
Sessions are conversational and client-centered with practical tools. He mixes cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, existential exploration, and EMDR when appropriate.
What is his professional background?
He has 11 years of professional experience, has taught addictions counseling as an adjunct graduate professor of psychology, and has held leadership roles in New Jersey counseling organizations.
Where is he licensed and based?
He is licensed as an LPC in New Jersey and practices with that credential within the state.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
John offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.
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