- Client-Centered Therapy
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Donna
Donna Welles is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts with 13 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and life changes, and lists social anxiety and phobia among her focus areas.
She uses a client-centered stance that treats the client as the expert on their own life. That means conversations focus on the person's goals, strengths, and what feels most useful right now. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to help manage strong emotions and Mindfulness Therapy to build attention and reduce reactivity.
Sessions are practical and straightforward. Donna helps people break problems into manageable steps, practice coping skills, and build routines that support daily functioning. She pays attention to mood, sleep, eating, and relationships because those areas often affect how someone feels day to day.
Her background includes long-term clinical work that spans individual concerns such as trauma, grief, ADHD, panic, and mood disorders. She also addresses relational issues like communication problems, jealousy, and intimacy-related worries, with attention to multicultural and LGBT concerns.
Many clients come wanting help with impulse control, isolation or loneliness, or coping after a traumatic brain injury. Donna offers coaching-style support for motivation, along with therapy for depression and anxiety. The first sessions usually focus on clear, small goals and a plan for what to try next.
How Donna’s approaches translate to online work
Donna uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses conversations on what the person wants to change and on their own strengths. That approach supports setting clear goals and pacing work to what feels doable.She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach practical techniques for managing intense emotions, reducing reactivity, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Mindfulness Therapy is used to build attention, notice automatic reactions, and practice calmer responses to stressors.
Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the first sessions. The therapist and client review goals, try an approach, and adjust based on what helps. This is a collaborative process that looks at daily routines, triggers, and small skills to practice between sessions.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the available options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday or school schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. The focus stays on learning skills, tracking progress, and applying what works in everyday situations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Social anxiety and phobia are listed among her focus areas.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is client-centered, meaning conversations focus on the client's goals and strengths. She uses DBT skills and mindfulness to teach emotion regulation and present-moment awareness.
How much experience does she have?
She has 13 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That background includes work with trauma, mood disorders, and panic symptoms.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds an MA and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.