Laurie Jo McDonnell , LMFT

Laurie Jo McDonnell is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship troubles, grief, and depression. She speaks plainly and listens closely to what matters most to each person. Laurie encourages clients to notice the strengths they already have and use them to move forward.

She views clients as experts on their own lives and offers steady, practical support. Sessions focus on real problems and usable steps rather than jargon. Laurie helps people name feelings, sort priorities, and try small changes that can make daily life easier.

Over 25 years in practice in Florida, Laurie has worked with a wide range of concerns. That background includes family of origin issues, communication problems, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and challenges around aging. She also supports people facing abandonment, codependency, divorce, and blended family dynamics.

Her approach blends several therapy styles to match a person’s needs. Techniques include ways to notice and accept difficult thoughts and feelings, skills to change unhelpful thinking, and methods that focus on attachment and relationship patterns. She draws on tools from emotion-focused work and evidence-based couple approaches when appropriate.

Laurie conducts sessions in English and offers multiple online formats for flexibility. She invites a collaborative process that respects each person’s pace and goals. Taking that first step can be hard, and she aims to make the path forward clear and manageable.

How Laurie Tailors Therapy Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. It can be helpful for anxiety, stress, and feelings of emptiness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which often improves mood and reduces worry. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on how emotions shape close relationships and can help people strengthen bonds and resolve recurring conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Laurie will review what you want to change, discuss different methods, and try approaches that match your goals and preferences. The process is collaborative and paced to your comfort level so changes feel manageable.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let you work face to face when you can use visual connection, phone sessions require less bandwidth, and live chat or text messaging provide quick check-ins or shorter touchpoints. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, keep momentum between sessions, and try different formats to see what helps most.