Paula Donovan, LCSW

Paula Donovan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Virginia with 20 years of practice. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, depression, addictions, and other life pressures. Paula speaks English and brings broad life experience to clinical work.

Paula believes clients know their lives best and uses that knowledge as the starting point. She works with people to clarify what matters now and to build on existing strengths. Sessions aim to reduce overwhelming symptoms and restore energy for everyday tasks.

Her approach blends practical techniques and reflective conversation. Paula draws on Client-Centered Therapy to follow what the person brings, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy and mindfulness methods for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

Paula often addresses losses, chronic stress, trauma impacts, and difficult relationships. She helps people name grief, manage sleep and eating changes, cope with caregiving burdens, and sort through relationship strain. Practical problem solving and skill building are common parts of the work.

In sessions she looks for patterns that maintain distress and helps people try small changes. She also supports conversations about meaning, identity, and the next steps after loss or life change. Paula aims for clear, direct work that fits daily life and responsibilities.

How her approaches are used in online work