Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
Welcome to BetterHelp! My name is Danielle McDonald, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified School Social Worker (CSSW) practicing near Buffalo, New York. I graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work with my Masters degree in 2006 and have been working in the field for 17 years. During my career I have worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling. This experience has enabled me to work with many different populations including children, teenagers, young adults and adults.
My experience includes working with individuals with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, career challenges, substance use issues, and major life changes including learning how to adjust to new normals. I believe that the therapeutic alliance is one of the most important aspects of counseling, and is a very important catalyst for the change and growth that you would like to see. I am very easy-going and have a collaborative approach to therapy. I love to build relationships with others using empathy, listening and humor. Clients tell me I am a mindful listener, compassionate, and engaging.
In my practice, I tend to primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy, but often adjust my technique to meet the needs of my client. I am flexible and willing to utilize the mode of communication that you are most comfortable with. In the beginning of counseling, I will discuss with you the needs or concerns that brought you to seek out therapy. From there we will work together to identify the goals that you would like to achieve.
It takes a lot of strength and courage to take these first steps and I look forward to working with you!
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Danielle McDonald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing near Buffalo, New York, and she also holds certification as a school social worker. She earned a master of social work from the University at Buffalo in 2006 and has seventeen years of professional experience across inpatient and outpatient mental health settings as well as substance use treatment.
Throughout her career she has worked with children, teenagers, young adults and adults, addressing concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, self-esteem challenges, career stress, substance use, and major life transitions. Her background across diverse treatment settings informs a flexible approach to different needs and age groups.
She values the therapeutic relationship as a central driver of change and emphasizes a collaborative, easy-going style. She builds rapport through empathy, attentive listening and appropriate humor, and clients describe her as a mindful listener who is compassionate and engaging.
Danielle primarily draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered methods and solution-focused techniques, adapting her approach to fit each person’s goals. Early sessions focus on understanding the issues that brought someone to therapy and establishing clear, achievable goals. She is willing to use the mode of communication that best suits each client and looks forward to supporting people as they take those initial steps toward change.
For many common concerns – such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems or adapting to life changes – online therapy can be an effective alternative to in-person care. Research and clinical experience suggest that remote sessions can address these issues comparably to traditional face-to-face treatment.
One of the primary benefits is flexibility. People can meet with therapists by video, by phone, through live chat or via in-app messaging, which makes it easier to fit care into busy schedules and different lifestyles. This variety of communication options allows individuals to choose the format that feels most comfortable and accessible.
Each participating therapist is a licensed professional, and clients have the option to change providers if they need a different fit. For many, online therapy provides a practical, accessible way to begin or continue mental health treatment while maintaining professional standards of care.
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