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- Relationship conflict
- Parenting support
- CBT and Gottman
About DonnaMaria
DonnaMaria O'Connor is a California LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) with 20 years of clinical experience helping people with relationship and family concerns. She focuses on parenting, communication problems, anger, and coping with life changes. She also works with issues that arise in blended families, caregiver stress, divorce and separation, and domestic violence.
DonnaMaria frames clients as experts in their own stories and draws on their strengths to address current challenges. She listens for patterns in relationship interactions and practical obstacles at home. Sessions aim to clarify problems and identify steps clients can try between meetings.
Her approach includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address unhelpful thinking and behavior, the Gottman Method to look at relationship dynamics, and Solution-Focused Therapy for setting concrete goals. She uses these methods to develop clear strategies rather than long abstract discussions.
In a typical session she helps people name patterns, rehearse different responses, and set small goals. She discusses communication skills, boundaries, and problem-solving techniques that fit day-to-day life. Progress is tracked by what clients notice changing in their interactions.
People who choose her work usually want practical tools, direct conversation about relationship patterns, and a focus on immediate problems like co-parenting or managing anger. To begin, she asks about the situation, highlights strengths, and works with clients on incremental changes they can try between sessions.
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How her approaches translate to remote work
DonnaMaria uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT sessions focus on concrete skills such as tracking moods, testing assumptions, and practicing new responses between meetings. The Gottman Method examines communication patterns and interaction cycles in relationships, helping people notice damaging habits and try different ways of speaking and listening.Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. She will review your concerns and goals, then recommend one or a mix of methods that fit what you want to change. The plan can shift over time based on what is working and what you prefer.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a weekday schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practice communication or parenting skills at home and bring specific recent interactions into a session for direct feedback.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with relationship and family concerns including parenting, anger, coping with life changes, blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, divorce and domestic violence.
What therapeutic approaches does she use?
Her work draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused Therapy to help with thinking patterns, relationship interaction, and setting practical goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has approximately 20 years of professional experience as a clinician working with relationship and family issues.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) practicing in California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and how much do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; specific fees depend on the selected plan and local considerations.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through the provided process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.