Stephanie Donley, LMSW
LMSW supporting grief and life transitions
- Warm and engaging
- Strength based
- Solution focused
About Stephanie Donley
Stephanie Donley is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who has worked in a variety of clinical and community settings, offering advocacy, coaching, and practical guidance to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, isolation or loneliness, grief and bereavement, and end of life or hospice concerns. She supports those dealing with compassion fatigue, forgiveness work, self-care and self-esteem challenges, questions of life purpose, and coping with major life changes, and has experience with individuals navigating cancer survivorship and end-of-life transitions.
Her communication style is warm, kind, and engaging, and she seeks to create a therapeutic space that is genuine, respectful, and nonstigmatizing. Stephanie adopts a solution-focused, client-centered, and strength-based stance, drawing heavily from cognitive behavioral and humanistic approaches to help people identify new ways of thinking, build coping skills, and uncover personal strengths. She emphasizes the human capacity to learn from struggle and to grow through challenge, and she describes therapy as a collaborative process that can reveal new perspectives and practical tools for more peaceful and fulfilling living.
Stephanie’s practice is LGBTQ+ affirming and she approaches each person without stigmatizing labels. She recognizes the courage it takes to reach out and applauds those first steps toward seeking greater well-being.
Her communication style is warm, kind, and engaging, and she seeks to create a therapeutic space that is genuine, respectful, and nonstigmatizing. Stephanie adopts a solution-focused, client-centered, and strength-based stance, drawing heavily from cognitive behavioral and humanistic approaches to help people identify new ways of thinking, build coping skills, and uncover personal strengths. She emphasizes the human capacity to learn from struggle and to grow through challenge, and she describes therapy as a collaborative process that can reveal new perspectives and practical tools for more peaceful and fulfilling living.
Stephanie’s practice is LGBTQ+ affirming and she approaches each person without stigmatizing labels. She recognizes the courage it takes to reach out and applauds those first steps toward seeking greater well-being.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoachingADHD
Additional Focus Areas
Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Solution-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Stephanie Donley have?
Stephanie Donley has 10 years of experience.
Is Stephanie Donley a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LMSW, listed as MI LMSW 6801097868.
In which languages does Stephanie Donley provide therapy?
Stephanie Donley provides therapy in English.
Where is Stephanie Donley located?
Stephanie Donley is located in Michigan.
How can I work with Stephanie Donley as my therapist?
You can work with Stephanie Donley through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Stephanie Donley work with international clients?
Stephanie Donley does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Stephanie Donley cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Stephanie Donley integrates evidence-informed methods to support people facing stress, grief, anxiety, and life transitions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify their values and develop actions that align with what matters most, while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than avoid them - useful for chronic worry, life changes, and distress that resists quick fixes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical skills to change behavior and mood, often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with stress. Client-Centered therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship where the client’s perspectives and strengths guide the pace and focus of work, supporting self-esteem, personal growth, and processing grief.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Stephanie will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, adjusting methods as therapy progresses to find the best fit. This partnership helps tailor practical tools and insights to the individual’s needs.
Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, manage mobility or caregiving constraints, and maintain continuity of care across distances. These options allow therapists and clients to focus on meaningful progress using the communication style that works best for them.