Paula Donovan , LCSW

Paula Donovan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with two decades of clinical experience who combines international perspective and practical training to support individuals and couples. She came to the United States more than 40 years ago to work at the World Bank and later retrained in clinical therapy to focus on helping people navigate stress, relationships, grief, addiction, mood concerns and life transitions. She brings a warm presence and an Irish accent to her practice and uses both life experience and professional training to inform her work.

Paula emphasizes that each person is the expert on their own life and that therapy is a collaborative process. She works to identify and strengthen the relationships, habits and resources that promote resilience and well-being. Her approach is flexible - she draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior strategies, mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each person’s needs.

She acknowledges how losses, trauma, ongoing stress and illness can leave people feeling exhausted, isolated or stuck, and she focuses on building a trusting working relationship that supports practical change and renewed energy. She invites those considering therapy to view it as an opportunity to explore new possibilities and next steps.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Paula draws on client-centered therapy to create a collaborative environment where the client’s perspective guides goals and pace - this approach emphasizes empathy, listening and building on existing strengths to address relationship struggles, grief and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to help identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; it is practical and can be applied to anxiety, depression, stress and coping with transitions. Mindfulness therapy offers simple skills to increase present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity, which can be useful for stress management, mood regulation and managing cravings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Paula works together with each person to consider their needs, goals and preferences and then tailors techniques from these approaches so they fit the individual. That collaborative process helps ensure therapy feels relevant and manageable.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, which allow people to access care from home or other convenient locations. These formats offer flexibility for scheduling, make it easier to maintain continuity during busy or changing seasons of life, and let clients engage with licensed professionals in the ways that suit them best.