I am a licensed counselor in North Carolina with 30 years of experience. My professional experience has been diverse and varied settings. I have worked with individuals and families in coping with major health issues and life threatening illnesses. I have also worked with teens and parents in the school environment. The thread throughout my counseling career is establishing a foundation for coping with change. This may be from outside forces impacting your life or inner struggles, more often there is a combination of both.
My therapy approach combines elements of cognitive behavioral, reality therapy, solution focused and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy . Most important in working with you, I want to understand your strengths, values and a vision of your best self and your life.
My priority is to meet you where you are with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I want to understand your concerns and specific needs, along with how you think I can best help you. Then we can work together to develop a treatment plan and goals.
My therapeutic and life philosophy comes from the quote “becoming is better than being” by Carol Dwick. Embracing “becoming” means always moving toward your more fulfilling and happier life. It begins with taking steps forward. I am here to partner with you to support, equip and empower you as you take your steps.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Depression, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Blended Family Issues, Cancer, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Chronic Pain Illness and Disability, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Isolation / Loneliness, Life Purpose, Midlife Crisis, Postpartum Depression, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Women's Issues, Workplace Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
NC LCMHC 833
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Donna Pappas. 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.
Donna is a compassionate therapist who provides excellent guidance. She is very pragmatic and I appreciate having concrete strategies to try to use. She does this in a non judge mental and caring way. And she is clear that these are suggestions or guiding thoughts but ultimately up to the client to decide how to proceed and which strategies are a good fit. She is helping me cope with my husbands Alzheimer's Disease in very huge ways.
Written on May 17, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, and coping with life changes
DJ was excellent - her ability to hold a space for difficult conversations, ask insightful and helpful questions and provide warmth and a lack of judgement really helped me to relax and unpack the issues that had brought me to BetterHelp. I feel like a different (much happier and lighter!) person after therapy with her. Thank you DJ!
Written on Feb 28, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, parenting issues, and coping with life changes
My time with Donna Pappas (DJ) has been wonderful so far! Every session with her has been enlightening, and she has helped to both support and guide me through a difficult time. She creates a safe space for me to process what I am going through, and adapts to my needs.
Written on Jan 24, 2023 after therapy with Donna for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, and grief
