Stephanie Donley, LMSW

Stephanie Donley is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with compassion fatigue, addiction concerns, body image and eating issues, sleep struggles, and questions around intimacy and relationships. Stephanie works in Michigan and approaches clients with warmth and respect.

Her style is direct and hopeful. Sessions focus on practical steps, not labels. She uses client-centered listening and helps people find strengths they already have. Conversations aim to identify small, useful changes people can try between visits.

Stephanie draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking and on acceptance and commitment ideas to build values-based action. Mindfulness practices and skills from dialectical behavior therapy are used when they fit a person’s needs. Her approach mixes problem-solving with exploration of meaning and purpose.

She has about ten years of experience working across settings, including supporting people through cancer survivorship and end-of-life concerns. Stephanie describes her communication as warm, kind, and engaging, and she avoids stigmatizing labels. She states her practice is LGBTQ+ affirming.

Therapy with Stephanie emphasizes realistic goals and steady progress. She encourages people to notice strengths and to try practical coping strategies. The work is collaborative, with attention to what feels useful in everyday life.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Stephanie uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, often by practicing small experiments and new coping skills. This approach is helpful for anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating concerns.

She also uses acceptance and commitment therapy, which encourages people to clarify personal values and take committed steps toward them even when feelings are difficult. ACT can be useful for coping with chronic illness, grief, and major life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Stephanie will work with each person to figure out which methods fit their goals and preferences. That might mean combining practical skill work with mindfulness exercises and values-based planning over several sessions.

Confirm session formats before booking so you know what is offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also let people practice skills in the context of their daily routines. Talk with the therapist when you schedule about what will fit your needs and availability.