- Attachment focus
- CBT strategies
- Motivational interviewing
About Donna
Donna Ray is an LCSW - licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey with 35 years of experience. She works with people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, relationship problems, and life transitions, including concerns around guilt and shame. She also supports those dealing with parenting stress, grief, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and intimacy-related issues.
Her background combines several evidence-informed methods. She uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationships affect current connections. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also uses Client-Centered principles and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing when helpful.
In sessions she listens for patterns that keep a problem going. She helps people name what they feel, test unhelpful beliefs, and try small changes between meetings. Practical skills and clearer communication are often part of the work when coping, anger, or relationship stress are the focus.
Donna has long experience with trauma, addictions, caregiver stress, and adjustment after major life events. She also addresses special topics such as adoption and foster care, aging and geriatric issues, attachment difficulties, autism spectrum concerns, body image, cancer-related distress, and codependency.
People can expect straightforward, goal-focused conversations. Before scheduling, confirm current session options by using the online matching tool and the See online therapy options button.
How Donna’s approaches are used in online sessions
Donna commonly integrates Attachment-Based Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps identify repeated ways of relating that fuel shame or distance. CBT focuses on spotting and testing unhelpful thoughts and trying small behavioral experiments to reduce anxiety or self-blame.Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to choose which methods to use based on goals, history, and what feels most practical. That means checking in together about what helps and adjusting techniques over time.
Confirm the specific session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that meeting by video supports continuity of care while practicing skills between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
New Jersey, New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, bipolar disorder, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting strain, anger, low self-esteem, ADHD, and related concerns including adoption and caregiver stress.
How would she approach guilt or shame?
She uses attachment-informed and CBT approaches to help people name emotions, examine self-critical beliefs, and test new ways of thinking and behaving.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker working with mood disorders, trauma, addictions, and life-transition issues.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in New York (NY LCSW) and New Jersey (NJ LCSW) and practices from New Jersey.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking by using the online matching tool, as session formats are not specified here.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.