Donna Coakley
Compassionate clinician using practical, skills-based therapy
MD, LCPC, LPC District of Columbia
- Experience
- 26 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Donna
Donna Coakley is a licensed clinician who brings 26 years of experience to her practice, combining practical, evidence-informed methods with a compassionate, client-centered stance.
Background and approach
She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside other approaches to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop concrete strategies for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. Her background also includes work with addiction, trauma-related concerns, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, and parenting challenges.
Trained as an MD and holding LCPC and LPC credentials, Donna adapts treatment to each person’s needs rather than relying on labels. Her style emphasizes warmth, active listening, and collaboration, and she integrates techniques from DBT, EMDR, and mindfulness when appropriate to address trauma, emotional regulation, and coping skills.
Practicing in the District of Columbia, she accepts English-speaking clients and is available to work with international clients as well. Donna frames therapy as a partnership: she helps clients set goals, choose approaches that fit their preferences, and build skills for lasting change.
Prospective clients can start by completing a brief matching questionnaire and scheduling sessions according to availability; subscription-based sessions are used and may vary by location and therapist availability.
Online Therapeutic Approaches and Flexible Care
Donna commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for managing anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and addictive patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship and supports self-directed growth, helping clients explore values, relationships, and emotional concerns at their own pace.
She also integrates elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy when clients need skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Choosing the right approach is collaborative: the therapist works with each person to clarify goals, assess what feels most helpful, and adapt techniques based on progress and preferences.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, so people can access care around work schedules, travel, or geographic constraints. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver structured interventions, skills coaching, and supportive dialogue in ways that fit daily life while making it easier to keep consistent appointments and continue therapeutic work across time zones.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Licensed
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
Languages
English