About
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness techniques
About Paula
Paula Donovan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with 20 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strains, grief, parenting pressures, and mood concerns. Her work also addresses addiction, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and challenges around self-esteem and sleep.
Donovan speaks plainly in sessions and treats clients as the experts on their own lives. She listens for strengths and patterns, then helps people build small, practical changes that ease day-to-day overwhelm. Her background includes international work and long experience supporting adults through losses and major life changes.
She draws on client-centered methods to prioritize the client's perspective and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and test different behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness techniques are offered to help manage intense emotions and reduce reactivity.
Paula also uses Motivational Interviewing to support people who want change but feel stuck or uncertain. Sessions tend to focus on concrete steps - new routines, communication practices, and coping strategies - that can fit into busy lives. She values honesty, occasional humor, and a straightforward approach.
Her practice pays attention to caregiver strain, aging and geriatric issues, divorce and separation, and multicultural concerns. People looking for help with fertility, hospice and end-of-life matters, or midlife and career crossroads may also find relevant support here.
How sessions work
Approaches used in online work and how they help
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's own perspective and goals. It means the therapist listens and helps clarify what matters most, so work stays relevant to daily life and relationships.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down thoughts, feelings, and actions into small parts. It helps identify unhelpful thinking and test small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, or sleep problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills for handling strong emotions and improving communication. It can be useful for people who feel overwhelmed by mood swings, anger, or relationship conflict.
Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will review needs, goals, and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. Adjustments are made over time based on what helps in everyday life.
Confirm current session options before booking because formats are not specified in the biography. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into work, caregiving, or medical schedules. Other practical benefits include shorter check-ins when time is limited, options that don't require travel, and sessions that work around school or care routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address related to home life?
She works with stress, parenting strain, relationship difficulties, grief, and issues around intimacy and communication.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is practical and collaborative, using client-centered conversation plus structured tools from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience supporting adults through loss, life changes, and relationship challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Virginia and practices from that state.
Does she conduct sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking since the biography does not list specific formats.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and 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.