Stephanie DonleyLMSW

Stephanie Donley is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life changes. She works with concerns such as compassion fatigue, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep and eating problems, parenting strain, career worries, and ADHD. Stephanie practices from Michigan and communicates in English. Stephanie keeps sessions warm, direct, and respectful. She avoids stigmatizing labels and aims for honest conversation. Her style is client-centered and strength based, with a voice that is kind and engaging. Her approach draws on practical methods that help people change patterns of thinking and behavior. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools are used to find new ways of coping. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ideas and mindfulness practices support managing strong feelings and staying focused on personal values. She also uses elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and motivational strategies to build skills for emotion regulation and purposeful action. Sessions often include goal-setting, skill practice, and time to reflect on what has helped before. Stephanie has about 10 years of experience across different settings, including work with people facing cancer survivorship and end-of-life concerns. She encourages exploration of meaning, forgiveness, and self-care. The work is collaborative - she helps people notice strengths and try practical steps toward a more peaceful, fulfilling life.

How therapeutic approaches guide online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values even when feelings are hard. It can help with anxiety, grief, and big life decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts influence feelings and behavior and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns; this is useful for stress, sleep, and mood problems. Mindfulness Therapy encourages simple attention practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus when emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they’ll try techniques, check what’s helping, and adjust the plan over time.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so conversations can happen from a more convenient location. Many people find it easier to practice skills learned in sessions in their everyday routines when meeting online, while still getting the same collaborative, skills-focused care from a licensed professional.