““We only go through this life one time. Live life with passion, gratitude and curiosity.””
Donna Atkinson, LMFT
Hi, I’m Donna Atkinson (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers) and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I know that many of us are struggling with painful situations in our lives and are looking for a way to move forward. I believe that we are trying to do the best we can at this moment in our lives. Using a strength-based approach, I work with clients on remembering forgotten positive qualities in ourselves and our relationships. We can work together to look at areas where you feel stuck and develop ways to move ahead to the next page in the book of your life. What has happened previously has led us to this chapter in our lives, but we can always turn the page and start a new chapter.
Change can be very intimidating, but it can also lead us to new and exciting places. I am here to empower you and guide you on this journey. You deserve the life you envision for yourself and your family.
I specialize in trauma, attachment, substance abuse, anxiety and depression. I have worked with parents and children who are not living together and are struggling with feelings of separation and loss. I have also worked with adoptive families who are struggling with attachment and living together as a harmonious family.
I earned my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Central Connecticut State University. I also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Relations from the University of Connecticut. I have over 25 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist seeing individuals, couples and families. I have further training in the Circle of Security (COS) model and help my clients increase attachment and trust between family members.
Donna participates with Aetna, Anthem and Husky plans.
Donna will be available for in-person sessions on Wednesdays only.
Anxiety Coach
In the past, I had a period of time when I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks due to a flare up of a medical condition. I know first-hand how it can take over your life and how much easier it is to avoid anxiety provoking situations. However, I was missing out on things and didn’t want anxiety to rule my life. I was able to work through it and the panic attacks stopped. I was able to go back to the life I had previously. I have a tremendous amount of compassion for others who also struggle with anxiety and mood issues. I enjoy working with my clients on using effective techniques to make anxiety manageable so that they can also live the lives they want to.
Relationship Specialist
We are in many relationships in our lives. We relate to our family, friends, co-workers and other people on a daily basis. I enjoy working on how people relate to each other and to ourselves. I enjoy working on how our thoughts about ourselves impact us and the people we are in relationships with. I also enjoy working on patterns that are occurring within relationships and how to improve these relationships so that they are more satisfying. I love to work with individuals, couples and families.
Self Care Expert
In the hectic world that we all live in, many times self care becomes an afterthought. When self care doesn’t happen, many times we get tired, burned out, etc. I love working with my clients on the importance of self care. Self care can be sitting and mindfully enjoying a cup of coffee, listening to music or audiobooks on the way to and from work or doing something that you enjoy and may have stopped doing. I also think that play is important for adults as well as children. Whether it’s wearing funky socks or ties to playing a game or catching a comedy show; I think it’s important to remember how to laugh and be whimsical sometimes.
A Little More About Me
I worked at somewhat stable jobs in the clinical field for over 25 years and was a clinical supervisor for many of those years. I decided to take a leap of faith because I wanted to get back to seeing clients full-time. It was a risky move to make in the middle of my career for many reasons, but I don’t regret it one bit. I am happier now than I ever have been and I’m passionate about the work I do. My philosophy is if this was the last year of your life, are you doing what you would want to be doing or moving toward it, are you appreciating and enjoying the people around you and are you happy. When my answer to some of those questions was no, I made the changes I needed to so that I could answer yes instead.
I also believe that self-care is very important. I enjoy reading books, going to the beach, going to concerts, spending time with family and friends and eating good food. I also grew up going to New York and Boston to watch my favorite sports teams with my family.
