Profile / United States
Laurie Jo McDonnell, LMFT
Florida
LMFT - Stress and Relationship concerns
See online therapy options- CBT and ACT methods
- Relationship focus
- Grief and depression
About Laurie
Laurie Jo McDonnell is a Florida licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of professional experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, family conflict, grief and loss, and depression. Laurie uses practical, skills-based methods to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different responses.
She prefers a straightforward way of working. Sessions often include identifying patterns that keep problems going and testing new behaviors in everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is part of her approach alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered techniques. She also draws on Emotionally-Focused and Gottman-informed methods when relationship work is needed.
Laurie treats a wide range of concerns related to attachment, abandonment, caregiver stress, chronic illness, blended family issues, and family of origin difficulties. She helps people talk through communication problems, codependency, and the strain of divorce or separation. Practical problem solving and short-term strategies are common in her work.
She sees grief, emptiness, and emotional pain as problems that respond to clear steps - tracking thoughts, testing assumptions, and practicing new interactions. Sessions are focused and goal-oriented while staying respectful of a person’s lived experience. Laurie encourages small experiments between meetings to build confidence and notice change.
To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules a first session. Payment and session arrangements vary by location and are handled through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How her approaches translate to online work
Laurie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and habits. CBT typically involves setting clear goals, tracking thoughts or triggers, and trying small experiments between sessions to test new ways of responding. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to clarify personal values and to practice actions that align with those values even when difficult feelings are present. Client-Centered Therapy provides a grounded, listening-based component where the person’s perspective guides the pace and focus of work.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. Laurie discusses goals and preferences with each person and then recommends practical techniques to try. She adjusts methods based on what the person finds useful and on the issues that come up in early sessions.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. Many people find remote sessions help keep steady progress while balancing caregiving, work, and medical appointments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, family conflict, grief and depression, plus related issues such as abandonment, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and communication problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and skills-focused. She uses CBT, ACT, and client-centered methods to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has been practicing for 25 years and brings long-term clinical experience to common life stresses and relationship concerns.
What credentials and region apply?
She is a Florida licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - practicing in Florida.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to start therapy?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.