- 20 years experience
- Family and parenting
- Practical communication skills
About DonnaMaria
DonnaMaria O'Connor is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with about 20 years of experience. She focuses on relationship and family concerns and brings a straightforward, supportive approach to sessions. Her work often centers on parenting, blended family challenges, and the stress that comes with caregiving and life transitions.
She believes clients know their own stories and have strengths to build on. In sessions she helps people name problems and try concrete steps to change what isn't working. Her manner is empathetic and respectful, and she aims to make conversations feel calm and focused.
DonnaMaria uses practical methods that help people improve communication and manage anger or difficult transitions. She also assists those facing divorce, separation, or domestic violence to sort through next steps and safety needs. Her experience includes guiding people through co-parenting arrangements and blended family dynamics.
Her approach balances short-term problem solving with deeper relationship work. She often draws on techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused Therapy to shape sessions. This means sessions can include identifying unhelpful thoughts, practicing communication skills, and setting small, achievable goals.
Clients describe the process as collaborative: the therapist and client choose practical steps together. To begin, she asks people to clarify what matters most and then tries strategies that fit their daily lives.
Approaches that shape online family and relationship work
DonnaMaria commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Gottman Method, and she also draws on Solution-Focused Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and try practical ways to change them; it is useful for managing anger and stress. The Gottman Method focuses on communication skills and patterns in relationships, offering structured ways to improve listening and reduce conflict. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, concrete goals and immediate steps that move a situation forward.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. DonnaMaria works together with clients to decide which methods fit their goals, preferences, and daily routines. She will suggest strategies, try them in sessions, and adjust based on what helps most.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the exact session formats before booking since current options are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when that suits a client. It can also let people practice communication skills in real-life contexts and bring parenting or caregiving concerns into conversation without needing extra time away from responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She helps with relationship strain, family conflict, parenting challenges, anger, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, divorce and separation, and domestic violence.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is empathetic and respectful. She works in a collaborative, practical way to identify problems and try steps that fit into everyday life.
What is her professional background?
She has about 20 years of professional experience working with relationship and family concerns, including parenting and co-parenting challenges.
What credentials and location information are on file?
She holds an LMFT credential and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced and billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.