Donna Jeane Pappas , LCMHC

Donna Jeane Pappas brings more than three decades of clinical experience to her counseling work, helping people move through change with clarity and purpose. She frames her practice around a question from Mary Oliver’s poem The Summer Day - asking what a person plans to do with their one wild and precious life - and uses that idea to guide thoughtful exploration of values, goals, and meaningful next steps.

Her practice often supports individuals who feel weighed down by transition, grief, shifts in relationships or career, empty nesting, caregiving responsibilities, or major health concerns. Pappas favors a coaching-oriented style that is forward-focused and practical, partnering with clients to clarify priorities, build on strengths, and take intentional actions rather than concentrating solely on symptom management or extended past exploration.

She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, a credential that reflects formal training and authorization to provide clinical counseling services. With a background informed by positive psychology and evidence-based techniques, Pappas emphasizes meaning, resilience, and life satisfaction while offering tools to support day-to-day coping and longer-term growth. Those seeking a thoughtful, experienced professional to collaborate on life design and purposeful change may find her approach well suited to their needs.

Therapeutic Approaches Adapted for Online Work

Donna Jeane Pappas integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy into her online practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, and take committed action toward a meaningful life - it is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a respectful, empathic relationship in which the therapist supports the client's own capacity for growth and self-understanding - it can be helpful for grief, identity shifts, and relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and teaching practical skills to change those patterns - it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping with everyday stressors.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process; Pappas works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques as the work unfolds. This collaborative stance helps tailor sessions to be practical and goal-oriented.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for scheduling and access from different locations. These options allow clients to connect from home, work, or while traveling and make it easier to maintain continuity of care during life transitions or busy periods.