Laurie Jo McDonnell , LMFT

Laurie Jo McDonnell is a Florida-licensed LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) with 25 years of professional experience. She has supported individuals and families through stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, family conflict, grief and loss, and depression, bringing sustained experience to complex emotional and interpersonal concerns.

She works from a strengths-based, collaborative stance, viewing each person as the expert of their own story and helping them draw on existing resources to address what is most difficult. Her practice includes practical strategies for improving communication and relationship dynamics as well as compassionate guidance for coping with bereavement and mood concerns.

Laurie Jo recognizes that beginning therapy can require courage and she honors the step of reaching out for help. Her approach prioritizes the client s goals and lived experience, shaping the pace and focus of work to align with each individual's needs and preferences.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Laurie Jo McDonnell draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person's needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, encourages acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed actions aligned with those values - it is often helpful for stress, anxiety, and avoidance patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and respect for the client's experience, creating space for self-exploration and emotional processing that can aid grief, depression, and relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and building practical skills to manage symptoms and change patterns that maintain distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and licensed professionals work collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances. This collaborative planning helps shape sessions and treatment focus over time.

Online therapy offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to schedule appointments, maintain continuity when life is busy, and work with a therapist from a convenient setting while still receiving structured, goal-oriented support.