DonnaMaria O'Connor, LMFT

DonnaMaria O'Connor is a California licensed marriage and family therapist with 20 years of experience. She focuses on relationship, family, parenting, anger, and coping with life changes. DonnaMaria centers each conversation on a person's strengths and practical next steps. She aims to create an environment of empathy, acceptance, and respect so people can start making changes that matter.

Over two decades she has helped people navigate divorce and separation, co-parenting concerns, blended family challenges, and communication problems. She also works with caregiver stress and issues tied to domestic violence. Her approach is collaborative: she draws on what is already working and helps identify small, manageable changes.

Sessions emphasize clear problem-solving and skills that can be used between meetings. She helps clients break down big problems into doable steps and practices, like communication techniques or new routines for parenting and caregiving. The work often focuses on short-term goals alongside longer term relationship repair.

DonnaMaria uses established methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, the Gottman Method for relationship work, and solution-focused strategies to keep sessions practical. She encourages people to notice progress and try different ways of coping. Her aim is to help clients gain clarity, reduce tension, and improve daily interactions.

People who want a straightforward, strengths-based collaborator may find this approach helpful. To begin, readers should confirm current session options and follow the site's process to match and schedule a session.

How her approaches can guide online work

DonnaMaria draws on a few clear methods to guide sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people notice unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors to reduce stress and anger. The Gottman Method focuses on practical tools for improving communication and rebuilding trust in relationships. Solution-Focused Therapy looks for what is already working and builds small, concrete steps toward the changes you want.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. She will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. That conversation helps decide whether to emphasize CBT skills, Gottman exercises for couples work, or solution-focused steps for immediate problems.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm which session formats are offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. For some people, not being on camera or choosing audio-only can lower the effort needed for a session. Talk with her during the matching process to pick the session rhythm and format that best fits daily routines and therapy goals.