Laurie Jo McDonnell, LMFT

Laurie Jo McDonnell is a Florida licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed by loss. She talks with clients about relationship strain and family conflict in clear, practical ways.

She approaches therapy from the belief that each person knows their story best and brings strengths to handle hard times. Sessions focus on building on those strengths while learning new ways to manage emotions and daily challenges. Laurie uses everyday language and straightforward tools so clients can try ideas between meetings.

Her work covers grief and coping with loss, communication problems, and struggles tied to abandonment or attachment. She also addresses issues connected to chronic illness, caregiving stress, blended families, and separation or divorce. Laurie aims to make the room a place for honest conversation and steady problem solving.

Therapy draws on methods like acceptance and commitment work, cognitive approaches to change thought patterns, and emotionally-focused techniques to improve connections. She often blends these with client-centered listening and relationship-focused methods to match the person in front of her.

People come for help with everyday pressure, persistent sadness, and complicated family histories. Laurie supports practical steps toward clearer choices and calmer days.

How her approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice their thoughts and focus on values-based action rather than getting stuck in worry. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and decisions about relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and offers practical exercises to shift unhelpful patterns. That approach is often helpful for depression and persistent anxious thinking. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on emotional experiences in close relationships and helps people understand and change interaction patterns that cause distance or conflict.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Laurie works with each person to see which methods fit their goals and daily life. She listens to what matters most and adjusts techniques so progress feels meaningful and doable.

Confirm the current online session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make scheduling easier and cut commute time, which helps people fit sessions around work and family. Video allows for visual cues during emotional work, while phone sessions can be a shorter way to check in when time or bandwidth is limited. Discuss format preferences when you schedule so sessions match your needs.