Paula Donovan, LCSW
Compassionate therapist focused on life stories
Details
| Name | Paula Donovan |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Virginia |
| Licensed in | Virginia |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 20 |
About Paula
Paula Donovan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with twenty years of experience helping people navigate stress, grief, relationship problems, addiction, mood concerns, and life transitions. She brings a calm presence and straightforward style to conversations. Paula values the client's knowledge of their own life and builds on what already works for each person.
Paula began her adult life in Ireland and moved to the United States over 40 years ago.
Background and approach
She worked internationally before retraining as a clinical therapist, and she weaves those life and work experiences into her practice. That background informs how she looks at culture, identity, and the practical demands of daily life. In sessions Paula draws on narrative ideas and client-centered ways of working.
She helps people tell the stories they live by, notice patterns, and choose different next steps. She also uses practical skills from cognitive behavioral and mindfulness approaches to help manage anxiety, low mood, and stress. Paula prioritizes building a trusting relationship first.
She talks plainly about strengths and setbacks, and she encourages small changes that make daily life easier. Humor and realistic hope are often part of the work. Common concerns she addresses include grief and loss, caregiver stress, relationship strain, addictions, sleep and eating difficulties, identity and LGBT issues, and coping with illness or aging.
Paula meets people where they are and helps them find clearer ways forward.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Grief among the things Paula works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Fertility issues
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Paula among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Paula directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Paula directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative work and practical skills translate online
Paula uses Narrative Therapy to help people look at the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships. This approach helps name the patterns that cause pain and opens space to try different ways of living and relating. It is often useful for relationship concerns, identity questions, grief, and coping with major life changes.She also brings Client-Centered Therapy into online sessions, which means she listens closely, follows the client's lead, and focuses on strengths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides practical tools for managing anxiety, depression, and unhelpful thinking patterns through skill-building and behavior change.
Choosing the most helpful approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to decide whether narrative exploration, skill work, or a blend fits best. Goals, preferences, and daily life demands guide that choice, and plans are adjusted as needed.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer conversation time. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging provide flexible, more frequent contact for brief updates or between-session support. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, and other responsibilities.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems can Paula help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, addictions, sleep and eating issues, caregiver stress, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and plainspoken, combining narrative ideas with client-centered listening and practical skills from CBT and mindfulness.
How much experience does she have?
Paula has twenty years of clinical experience and a background that includes international work before she retrained as a therapist.
Where is Paula licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Virginia and practices from that region.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
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 Paula?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Paula are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Paula where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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