Hi, welcome to Better Help.
My name is Donna Smith. I am a masters prepared licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rochester NY. I received my counselor training through the University of Rochester .
I have 30 plus years of experience working in a variety of mental health settings, however, my passion is to work one to one with individuals who are looking to enhance the quality of their life.
In addition to providing confidential, compassionate mental health therapy my other passion is creative writing. I see these two areas blending in beautiful ways. I believe we each have within us a collection of tales that together create a unique and colorful story of the life we've lived thus far as well as the dreams that we've laid before us.
I would be honored to travel with you for a time on your personal journey. I have always seen my myself as a 'guide' in this process. My role as therapist would be to join with you in partnership working together to realize the future you have imagined.
I will offer you the opportunity for a genuine, open, trusting and hope-filled connection should you choose me as your therapist and therapeutic partner.
The path we take will be of your choosing. I am committed to walking beside you and offering the experience gained through my own life as well as the skills I've learned throughout my career as a therapist.
Your decision to enter into this journey is a brave one - CONGRATULATIONS!
I look forward to accompanying you in a supportive, non-judgmental manner to your destination.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Mood disorders, Narcissism, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Personality disorders, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
NY LMHC 001003
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Donna Smith. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I look forward to my weekly appointment with Donna. She helped me set firm boundaries and accept myself. I stopped shape-shifting to get accepted. I wake up excited to see what’s going to happen instead of dreading contact with anyone, even on the phone. I went from being isolated and anxious to being irresistible and flexible.
Written on Jun 07, 2024 after therapy with Donna for 1 year and 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and adhd
A very kind and thoughtful women. Listens and provides helpful advice. Really helping me wi the problems at hand.
Written on Apr 26, 2024 after therapy with Donna for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, and self esteem
She's helping more than she knows
Written on Mar 12, 2024 after therapy with Donna for 2 years and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and anger management
Donna is an amazing therapist. She listens and takes the time to get to know her patients in the most understanding way possible. She has helped me immensely through really hard times.
Written on Dec 14, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Our last session we focused more on my wife’s physical health than my mental health. I felt this was unprofessional. As she is not my wife’s medical care giver and I can’t answer for my wife’s medical history I don’t think it was appropriate to ask me about or speak on my wife’s health. She also gave medical advice about my wife without being her client or patient. I feel like the conversation was steered towards my wife’s weight and health and not my mental health.
Written on Feb 21, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Donna has made me feel more comfortable in a month than therapists I’ve seen for years. Donna is a great listener, suggests things and opens my thoughts to a path I’ve never experienced. I appreciate Donnas help and expertise.
Written on Jan 09, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, and self esteem