Donna Altepeter , LCSW

Donna Altepeter, LCSW, brings a collaborative and strengths-based approach to therapy rooted in community mental health training. She earned a Master of Social Work with a concentration in community mental health and combines a client-centered stance with practical skills drawn from cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapies. Her work has included supporting people through life-threatening illness, bereavement and loss, major life transitions, anxiety, and depression, and she welcomes clients across the life span.

Donna approaches therapy as a partnership - she views each person as the expert on their own life and treats sessions as a space for mutual learning. Her background in teaching social work informs a style that blends education and exploration, helping clients build actionable skills while honoring their experience and goals. She focuses on fostering change, resilience, and meaningful growth in areas such as relationships, coping with stress, and adapting to life changes.

Clients work with Donna to identify priorities, practice new strategies, and move toward clearer purpose and improved well-being. She aims to support each person with empathy, practical guidance, and a belief in their capacity for change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Donna Altepeter

Donna uses client-centered therapy to place the person and their goals at the center of the work, creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client's priorities and supports their autonomy. This approach is helpful for people seeking a collaborative relationship and clarity about personal values and direction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is part of Donna's skill set and focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and practicing practical strategies to change them. CBT is effective for concerns such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related difficulties because it offers concrete tools for coping and symptom reduction.

Mindfulness therapy complements these approaches by helping clients build present-moment awareness and self-compassion, which can ease emotional reactivity and improve stress management. Donna works with clients to integrate mindful practices into daily life when appropriate.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process - Donna will work with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt techniques over time to find the best fit. Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to access consistent care. These formats provide flexibility for scheduling, allow therapy to fit around work and family life, and support ongoing contact with licensed professionals from a range of locations.