Profile / United States
Dr. Nicole Donato, LPC
New Jersey
Licensed Professional Counselor - Anxiety and Addictions
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Client-centered work
- Motivational Interviewing
About Nicole
Dr. Nicole Donato is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in New Jersey with 11 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, eating concerns, low self-esteem, depression, LGBT issues, relationship and family difficulties, trauma, grief, and related struggles.
Nicole earned two master's degrees and a PhD in psychology and has worked across settings. Her background includes inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient therapy, and social work with a foster family agency. She currently teaches at college level and brings that clinical and academic perspective to sessions.
In session she uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice activating events and the self-talk that follows. She helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts and test different ways of responding to them. That work often focuses on immediate problems like sleep, eating, addiction, or managing mood.
She also draws from client-centered methods, which emphasize a genuine, respectful working relationship. Motivational Interviewing is used when people want help making changes and need support building motivation. Psychodynamic ideas may be brought in to understand patterns that repeat over time.
Nicole describes therapy as a collaborative process. She explains how sessions work and aims to make the steps clear. People can expect concrete techniques from CBT alongside conversation that connects current struggles to life experience.
Her practice supports a broad set of concerns including anger, career questions, ADHD, intimacy issues, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes. Sessions are offered in English and reflect her combined clinical and teaching experience.
How CBT and related approaches are used in online sessions
Dr. Donato commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her online work. CBT focuses on spotting activating events, noticing the thoughts that follow, and trying different behavioral or thinking strategies to reduce distress; this is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, mood, and eating concerns. Client-centered methods emphasize a straightforward, respectful working relationship where the person’s experience guides what comes next.She also uses Motivational Interviewing when change feels difficult. That approach helps people clarify their own reasons for change, weigh options, and build small steps that fit their life. Together with CBT, it can help with addictions, motivation for healthy habits, and goal-directed work.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. She will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then suggest practical techniques to try. The process is collaborative: methods are adjusted based on what helps most.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule - for example, shorter check-ins during a lunch break or sessions that avoid travel time. They can also allow people to use less bandwidth options when needed or choose formats that match their daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, eating concerns, low self-esteem, depression, grief, trauma, relationship and family issues, and related problems such as sleep or career concerns.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to identify activating events and the self-talk that follows, then helps clients test different responses to unhelpful thoughts and habits.
What is her clinical and work background?
She has a PhD in psychology, two master’s degrees, and 11 years of Licensed Professional Counselor experience across inpatient, outpatient, and foster care settings, and she now teaches at the college level.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor - in New Jersey and practices from that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
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.