Therapist profile
Dr. Nicole Donato, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor - Family and parenting focus
Continue with NicoleAbout
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
About Nicole
Dr. Nicole Donato is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey with 11 years of clinical experience. She lists stress, anxiety, addictions, eating concerns, self-esteem, depression, LGBT issues, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy issues, sleeping problems, parenting, anger, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and ADHD among her focus areas. Sessions are conducted in English and she does not take international clients.
Nicole has held roles in inpatient psychiatric settings, outpatient therapy, and as a social worker for a foster family agency. She also teaches at the college level. Those varied roles shaped her practical approach to care and how she talks about problems with people.
She uses client-centered ideas to build a working relationship. That means she aims to be genuine and listens to understand each person’s life story. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice activating events and the self-talk that follows, then test and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Motivational Interviewing and psychodynamic ideas are additional tools she draws on when they fit the concern. Motivational Interviewing helps with readiness for change and working through ambivalence. Psychodynamic ideas are used to look at patterns and early relationships that keep causing trouble.
Nicole expects to work collaboratively. She explains what therapy involves and talks in plain terms. The goal is practical: to help people manage symptoms and everyday problems so they can move forward with clearer choices.
How sessions work
How Dr. Donato’s approaches work online
Dr. Donato draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online sessions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a genuine working relationship and listening closely to the person’s life details to guide the work. It helps when someone needs to be heard and to clarify what matters most to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at specific activating events, the self-talk that follows, and the resulting feelings and behaviors. CBT helps with anxiety, depression, sleep, and many everyday problems by teaching concrete skill practice and thought-testing.She also uses Motivational Interviewing when clients are unsure about change. That approach helps people weigh options, resolve mixed feelings, and set realistic next steps. Deciding which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process; the therapist and client check in together and adjust methods based on needs, goals, and what feels most useful.
The original biography does not list the exact online session formats used, so confirm available options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy home life, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals adapt their approach in online sessions to focus on what will make the most progress for daily problems and parenting-related stress.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She lists stress, anxiety, addictions, eating issues, self-esteem, depression, LGBT concerns, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, and other life challenges.
How would she describe her therapy style?
She emphasizes a client-centered approach and uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with motivational interviewing and psychodynamic ideas as needed.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 11 years of clinical experience working in inpatient and outpatient settings and as a foster agency social worker.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in New Jersey and works from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not specify session formats; confirm current session options before booking so you know whether video or phone sessions are offered.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.