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DS Portrait of Donna Smith

Donna Smith

Calm guidance for stress, trauma, and relationships

LCSW Louisiana

Experience
38 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Donna

About Donna

Donna Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with decades of experience supporting people who face stress, anxiety, relationship strain, depression, trauma, and related challenges.

Background and approach

She draws on a long career in medical and psychiatric settings to offer practical, compassionate care for concerns ranging from postpartum depression to the effects of prejudice and discrimination. Donna emphasizes empathy and steady support while helping clients untangle symptoms that interfere with daily life.

Her style integrates structured, evidence-informed techniques alongside person-centered listening. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are among the tools she uses to help clients identify patterns, build coping skills, and clarify values.

Alongside these approaches she brings mindfulness practices, narrative work, and relationship-focused methods such as the Gottman Method to address relational and family dynamics. Based in Louisiana, Donna combines nearly four decades of clinical practice with a commitment to ongoing collaboration, helping each person shape goals and pathways that fit their circumstances and priorities.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps clients identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns by breaking problems into manageable steps; this approach is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them while clarifying personal values to guide action, which can be useful for emotional avoidance and chronic stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens deeply and supports the client's own problem-solving and growth.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals and may combine elements from different methods to create a tailored path forward. This collaborative exploration helps ensure the work feels relevant and practical for the individual's life.

Online sessions make it easier to access these approaches through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and formats that suit different comfort levels and day-to-day demands. These options support continuity of care and allow clients and licensed professionals to work together from wherever the client is located within the therapist's practice area.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly help with?
Dutch Donna Smith works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, and depression, and she includes postpartum depression and prejudice and discrimination among her additional focuses.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Her approach blends structured methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with client-centered listening, mindfulness practices, narrative techniques, and relationship-focused tools.
How much clinical experience does this therapist have?
She has 38 years of experience, largely working in medical and psychiatric settings, bringing long-term clinical perspective to a range of psychological concerns.
What are the therapist's credentials and where are they located?
Donna Smith holds an LCSW credential, licensed in Louisiana as LA LCSW 3522, and practices based in Louisiana.
Can I work with this therapist if I live outside the country?
International clients are not currently accepted, and services are provided to clients located where the therapist is able to practice.
In what session formats does she offer therapy?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Additional focus areas

Postpartum depressionPrejudice and discrimination

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

38+ years

Licensed

Louisiana

Languages

English