01 · Who Donna works with

Donna works with stress, Anxiety, grief and self esteem

Donna lists 14 specialisms and 17 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Donna chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Donna's own words

What Donna says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to read my profile. Beginning a journey of personal growth is a meaningful step, and finding the right counselor to support the work you want to do is an important part of that process.

The essence of my work as a counselor is reflected in this question from the poem The Summer Days by Mary Oliver : “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I view my role as helping you thoughtfully explore this question and move toward answers that feel authentic and purposeful.

The individuals who tend to be the best fit for my practice are those who are going through life, yet find themselves feeling weighed down or navigating change alone. Clients often seek my support during periods of grief, life transitions, relationship or career changes, empty nesting, or when they simply want greater clarity, alignment, and fulfillment in their lives. If you are motivated toward growth and value a supportive, respectful, and nonjudgmental space, my approach may be well suited for you.

I am a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina with over 32 years of professional experience. My work has been broad and varied, with a consistent focus on helping individuals gain perspective and grow through life’s challenges. I have extensive experience supporting clients coping with major health concerns, life-threatening illness, and significant loss, as well as guiding individuals through developmental and life-stage transitions including education and career changes, relationships, parenting and adult children, caregiving for aging parents, retirement, and redefining identity in new chapters of life.

While my background is firmly rooted in clinical counseling, my style is intentionally more coaching-oriented than traditional psychotherapy. Our work together is collaborative, forward-focused, and practical. Rather than concentrating primarily on symptom management or extensive exploration of the past, we focus on what matters most to you now-clarifying goals, building on strengths, and identifying meaningful steps toward the life you want to create.

My approach draws from positive psychology and evidence-based practices, emphasizing meaning, purpose, and life satisfaction. I believe happiness is something that can be cultivated over time, even amid everyday stressors and significant life challenges. Together, we will develop tools and strategies that support resilience, intentional living, and a richer day-to-day experience.

If you are seeking a thoughtful, experienced professional who will partner with you in growth, clarity, and intentional life design, I would welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Donna Jeane Pappas, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Donna works

The 6 approaches Donna lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Donna lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Donna's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Donna runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

Narrative Therapy

Treats the story you tell about your life as something that can be examined and retold rather than as the plain facts. Separates the person from the problem - “the anxiety” rather than “your anxiety” - to make room for the parts the current story leaves out.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Donna practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Donna's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Donna at this point.

2. Naming Donna specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Donna is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Donna.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Donna

Built from what Donna actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Donna's - Donna has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “With 32 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LCMHC

Licensed in

North Carolina

Licence

NC LCMHC 833

Licence number

833

Licence expires

30 Jun 2028

NPI

1578725164

Years in practice

32

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Donna's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Donna. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.