Donda Goodson

Compassionate practitioner guiding practical change

LMHC, LPC Alabama

Experience: 32 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Donda

Donda Goodson is a licensed counselor based in Alabama who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, mood concerns, substance issues, and life transitions.

Background and approach

With 32 years of clinical work, she draws on a long history of supporting clients across a wide age range and diverse presenting problems, using practical therapeutic strategies to help clients move forward. She trained in rehabilitation counseling, earning degrees from Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and has held licensure since 1992.

Much of her practice experience comes from both mental health agencies and independent practice settings, where she has worked with clients addressing anger, depression, obsessive-compulsive patterns, ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, parenting difficulties, and sobriety maintenance. Her background gives her familiarity with both short-term coping skills and longer-term growth work.

Goodson typically blends client-centered methods with cognitive behavioral techniques and other evidence-informed approaches to help clients identify obstacles, change unhelpful patterns, and pursue personal goals. She aims to create an approachable therapeutic space where practical tools and individual values guide progress over time.

Therapeutic approaches online that emphasize skills and values

Many clients find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy useful for identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and building concrete skills to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change behaviors. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy complements those efforts by helping people clarify personal values and practice willingness to experience difficult thoughts or feelings while moving toward meaningful action. Client-Centered Therapy brings a supportive, nonjudgmental stance that prioritizes the client's perspective and helps create a collaborative space for change.

The therapist views finding the best approach as a collaborative process. She will work with clients to consider goals, preferences, and the specific challenges they bring, and then suggest ways to combine strategies so the work fits each person's needs and pace.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility for scheduling and daily life demands. These options allow clients to access therapy from different locations, use shorter or longer interactions as needed, and maintain consistency when in-person visits are not possible. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to work well across these formats so therapeutic progress can continue regardless of where sessions take place.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?

She works with a broad set of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, depression, addictions, family and parenting issues, anger, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and ADHD.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Her practice combines client-centered listening with practical strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with acceptance, mindfulness, and skills-based approaches to help clients build coping tools and clarify values.

What is her clinical background?

She has 32 years of clinical experience working in mental health agencies and independent practice, with experience treating people across a wide age range and varied challenges.

What credentials and licensure does she hold and where is she located?

She is credentialed as LMHC and LPC with licensure details FL LMHC MH18483 and AL LPC LPC01082, and she practices from Alabama.

Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?

Services are offered in English only and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Clients can work with her through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on scheduling and format preferences.

How are session costs handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are needed to begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

32+ years

Licensed

Alabama, Florida, Virginia

Languages

English