Donda Goodson, LMHC, LPC - Therapist in Alabama

Client-centered work
Cognitive behavioral tools
Mindfulness skills

About Donda

Donda Goodson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 32 years of experience practicing in Alabama. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem struggles, depression, addictions, family and parenting concerns, anger, bipolar challenges, life transitions, and ADHD. Donda helps individuals who feel stuck by talking through what matters to them and practical next steps.

She trained at Auburn University for her undergraduate degree in vocational rehabilitation and earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her clinical work began in mental health agencies and expanded into private practice. Over three decades she has seen a wide range of needs and ages, from children to older adults.

Donda has experience helping people with obsessive-compulsive concerns, trauma and stress-related disorders, maintaining sobriety, and supporting those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. She also assists parents who find day-to-day parenting stressful and frustrating, and people coping with grief and major life changes.

Her approach draws from client-centered methods and cognitive behavioral techniques. Sessions involve talking through problems, learning concrete skills, and setting small goals to test what works. She aims for clear steps people can try between sessions.

Clients can expect straightforward conversation focused on managing symptoms and solving immediate problems. Donda uses practical tools from evidence-based approaches and adapts them to each person's pace and goals.

How Donda uses therapy approaches online

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person's own concerns and strengths. It involves reflective listening and supporting people to set their own goals, which can help with social hesitation and low confidence. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches concrete skills to test new ways of responding to anxiety and phobia-related situations. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and simple exercises to reduce reactivity and increase focus during stressful social moments.

Finding the best approach is part of the work. The therapist and client will talk together about goals, preferences, and what methods feel most useful. That collaborative process guides which techniques are emphasized in sessions rather than starting with a fixed method.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, such as shorter check-ins during a work break or appointments without travel time. They can also allow sessions without video when people prefer less visual focus or when bandwidth is limited. Discussing practical needs at the start helps shape sessions that fit weekly routines and real-world challenges.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgiveness Guilt and shame Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stress Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

32+ years

Listed in

Alabama, Florida, Virginia

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kind of concerns does she help with?

She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, family and parenting issues, anger, bipolar, coping with life changes, and ADHD among other related concerns.

What is her approach in sessions?

Her style combines client-centered conversation with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness. Sessions focus on practical skills and steps people can try between meetings.

How much experience does she have?

She has 32 years of clinical experience working in mental health agencies and private practice with a broad range of client needs.

What credentials and location should I know?

She holds LMHC and LPC credentials and practices in Alabama.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Choose the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.