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LM Portrait of Laurie Jo McDonnell

Laurie Jo McDonnell

Compassionate guidance for life’s transitions

LMFT Florida

Experience
25 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Laurie

About Laurie

Laurie Jo McDonnell is a Florida-licensed LMFT with 25 years of clinical experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, relationship and family challenges, grief, and depression. She centers clients as the experts of their own stories and builds on individual strengths to help navigate difficult transitions and painful experiences.

Background and approach

Laurie emphasizes collaboration, encouraging clients to take the first courageous steps toward change while offering steady professional guidance. Her work often addresses core patterns such as attachment and abandonment concerns, communication problems, codependency, and family of origin issues, as well as life changes related to aging, illness, caregiving, divorce, and blended families.

Laurie integrates evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Client-Centered Therapy, and aspects of the Gottman Method to tailor care to each person’s needs and goals.

She practices in Florida and communicates with clients in English, inviting those ready to begin the process to take the next step toward meaningful change.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Work

Laurie integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in online sessions to address patterns of thought and behavior while helping clients clarify values and take meaningful action. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and building practical coping skills for anxiety, depression, and stress, while ACT emphasizes acceptance, mindfulness, and committing to actions that align with what matters most.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy principles, offering empathic listening and support to create a collaborative space where clients' perspectives guide the pace and content of work. Together the therapist and client explore which methods feel most helpful and adapt the approach over time to match evolving needs and goals.

Online therapy with Laurie is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity across transitions, and access consistent support regardless of location within Florida.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Laurie commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, grief and depression, and related issues like abandonment, communication difficulties, and caregiver stress.
What is Laurie’s therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, combining practical skill-building with attention to emotions and relationship patterns to meet individual goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Laurie brings 25 years of professional experience to her practice, applying a range of evidence-informed approaches gathered over her career.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the credential FL LMFT MT2063 and practices in Florida.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Laurie provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process for beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodNarrative TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English