- Relationship strain
- Anger management
- Parenting support
About DonnaMaria
DonnaMaria O'Connor is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - practicing in California with about 20 years of experience. She works with people facing relationship strain, family conflict, parenting challenges, anger, and major life changes.
She focuses on practical steps people can take to reduce reactive behavior and improve communication. She helps clients identify the patterns that keep arguments recurring and tries to make goals concrete and achievable. Sessions tend to center on skills people can use between meetings as well as clearer decisions about next steps in relationships.
Her background includes long experience with blended family issues, caregiver stress, and the stresses around divorce and separation. She also works with people dealing with domestic violence history and with communication breakdowns that leave resentment building.
DonnaMaria uses structured approaches to guide sessions rather than long, open-ended talks. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused Therapy to set targets, rehearse new responses, and track small changes. Clients are invited to practice new ways of speaking and managing anger between meetings.
Practical matters are handled directly: fees vary by location, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is completed and a first session scheduled through the online therapy options button.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
DonnaMaria uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and practice different responses. CBT focuses on concrete skills for managing anger and changing patterns that lead to repeated conflict.The Gottman Method is used to improve communication and rebuild interaction habits. It offers practical exercises for repairing trust, reducing criticism, and handling recurring arguments in relationships.
Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small workable changes and on building what already works. It helps people set short-term goals and try specific steps between sessions.
Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, and adjustments are made as progress is observed.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, a shorter check-in during a work break, or avoiding travel time to an office. Confirm the available session formats when you schedule so sessions fit your daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She helps people with relationship issues, family conflicts, parenting concerns, anger, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses structured, goal-focused sessions that emphasize skills practice and clearer communication rather than open-ended talk.
How much experience does she have?
She has about 20 years of professional experience as a therapist.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, listed as LMFT, and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled?
Fees vary by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.