Donda Goodson, LMHC, LPC - Therapist in Alabama

Anxiety and depression
Parenting and family
CBT and mindfulness

About Donda

Donda Goodson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Alabama with 32 years of experience. She has a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an undergraduate degree from Auburn University in Vocational Rehabilitation. Her work covers a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, and ADHD.

She has spent most of her career in mental health agencies and private practice. She has seen people ranging from children to older adults, and has experience with anger management, obsessive compulsive disorder, and stress-related disorders. She also works with people trying to maintain sobriety and with those affected by chronic illness or disability.

Donda uses client-centered and cognitive behavioral approaches in sessions. That means she listens to what matters to the person and then uses practical strategies to change thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques when helpful.

Her background includes work with adoption and foster care issues, abandonment, autism and Asperger syndrome, blended family issues, and parenting stress. She helps people sort through family problems, communication trouble, codependency, and the strain of divorce or separation.

Sessions focus on clear goals and step-by-step skills people can use between visits. She aims to make sessions straightforward and useful for everyday life. To begin, people complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without being driven by them. It focuses on values and small actions that move someone toward what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness practices are used to build present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity for stress and anxiety.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to identify goals and try methods that fit those goals and preferences. This is a shared process and adjustments are made if something is not helpful.

Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as they are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Therapists and licensed professionals often use different formats to match schedules and needs, and Donda will discuss options during the matching and scheduling steps so sessions fit into everyday life.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes ADHD

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Adoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependency Communication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

32+ years

Listed in

Alabama, Florida, Virginia

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, ADHD, and related family and parenting problems.

How would she describe her therapy style?

Her style is client-centered with practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, DBT skills, and mindfulness where useful.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 32 years of experience working in mental health agencies and private practice with clients across the lifespan.

What are her credentials and location?

She holds LMHC and LPC credentials and practices in Alabama.

Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Please confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified here.

How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started with her?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.