Danielle McDonald , LCSW

Danielle McDonald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 17 years of experience. She draws on years of work in inpatient and outpatient settings and substance use counseling to help people facing stress, anxiety, addiction issues, and difficult life transitions.

Danielle uses an easy-going, collaborative style in sessions. She listens with empathy and brings a sense of humor when appropriate. Her work centers on building a trusting relationship and setting clear goals together.

Her clinical background includes supporting people with depression, self-esteem struggles, parenting concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses attention difficulties such as ADHD and problems that arise with relationships, communication, and commitment.

Danielle commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused ideas, and she adapts methods to fit each person's needs. In the first meetings she talks through the concerns that brought someone to therapy and helps define the work they want to do.

She has experience with blended family issues, codependency, attachment concerns, first responder issues, and coping after natural or human-caused disaster. Danielle helps people identify practical steps to manage emotions and make day-to-day changes.

Sessions are offered in English and she works with adults across a range of life situations. Danielle encourages a paced, collaborative process where people set goals and adjust strategies as they go.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a strong working relationship. The therapist offers empathy and reflective listening to help people clarify what matters and decide on next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and motivation.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Danielle collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. She will check in about what is helpful and adjust the approach as progress is made.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for face-to-face conversation and guided exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when less bandwidth is available or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging can support brief check-ins, skill practice, and ongoing encouragement between longer sessions. These options make care more flexible and easier to fit into busy schedules.