Therapist profile
Donna Coakley, LCPC, LPC
Licensed counselor - parenting and family concerns
Continue with DonnaAbout
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
About Donna
Donna Coakley is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 26 years of experience. She is licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. She works with concerns such as depression, anxiety, stress, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy-related issues, ADHD, addictions, trauma, and sleep problems.
Donna uses a conversational, interactive approach that centers on the person in front of her. She combines client-centered work with practical cognitive tools and mindfulness strategies. Sessions focus on real-life skills for everyday struggles rather than abstract theory.
Her background includes extensive experience with military members and their families across all branches, spanning more than a decade. That work informs how she addresses trauma, post-traumatic stress, and the practical strains that come from service-related life changes.
Donna draws on several evidence-informed methods including cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior strategies, EMDR-informed procedures, and mindfulness practices. She uses these tools to address issues like addictive behaviors, obsessive thinking, and emotional regulation.
In sessions she helps people talk through relationship conflict, parenting strain, and communication problems. Practical goals often include improving sleep patterns, reducing anxiety symptoms, and managing cravings or compulsive behaviors. To begin, she asks about specific daily challenges and helps set straightforward steps to try between visits.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Client-centered work puts the person's concerns first. In practice this means sessions start by asking what is most pressing at home and what the client hopes to change. The therapist listens and uses that information to guide choices about techniques.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going. It uses short exercises and concrete tasks you can try between sessions to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or change unhelpful routines. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for regulating emotion and handling conflict without escalation. DBT-style coaching can help with intense reactions, relationship strain, and urges tied to addictive behaviors.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps. That way clients can test tools and keep what works for their daily life.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make fitting therapy into a busy household easier by removing commute time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let someone participate from a quieter location when that is possible and reduce time away from caregiving or work.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of home and parenting issues does she address?
She works with parenting strain, communication problems, relationship conflict, and intimacy-related issues. She also addresses impacts on sleep and mood that come from those stresses.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is conversational and interactive, combining client-centered work with cognitive and mindfulness techniques. Sessions focus on practical skills and problem solving.
How much experience does she bring to common concerns?
She has 26 years of clinical experience and over a decade working with military members and their families. That background shapes how she approaches trauma, addiction, and relationship strain.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She holds an LPC in the District of Columbia and Virginia and an LCPC in Maryland. Her practice is based in the District of Columbia.
Can I work with her if I live outside the U.S.?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Confirm any cross-border scheduling or licensing questions before booking.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current online and in-person options before scheduling.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and services. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, and prices differ by region.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. That process starts the intake and scheduling steps.
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.