PuttingFamilyFirst

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DF Portrait of Donya Franklin
Online therapist

Donya Franklin

Compassionate, practical support for families

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Credentials
LPC
Experience
16 years
Licensed in
Georgia
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Donya

Donya Franklin greets worried parents and family members with a straightforward offer: practical help for real-life problems. She is Donya Franklin, LPC, and she focuses on family and parenting concerns as well as stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles. Her style is down-to-earth and collaborative, aimed at helping people manage parenting challenges, improve communication, and cope with difficult emotions.

Donya draws on 16 years of counseling experience in both community and clinical settings.

Background and approach

She has worked in independent practice, community agencies, residential programs, outpatient centers, and a domestic violence facility. That range means she has seen many kinds of family situations and the issues that come with them. In sessions she uses short-term practical tools alongside deeper conversations.

She often applies cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and solution-focused strategies to set clear, reachable goals. She also works from a client-centered stance, keeping the person’s values and preferences at the center of care. Parents will find direct coaching on communication, behavior strategies, and coping skills.

She also addresses grief, addiction, trauma, intimacy and self-esteem concerns, and specific family challenges such as blended families, adoption and foster care, and caregiver stress. Donya earned her master’s degree in clinical counseling and marriage and family from the University of Northern Colorado. She holds a Licensed Professional Counselor credential in Georgia (GA LPC LPC011972).

Her approach is collaborative and practical, aimed at making small changes that add up to better family functioning and day-to-day life.

Practical approaches for online family and parenting support

Donya commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and the Gottman Method to help parents and families make concrete changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new ways of thinking and behaving to reduce stress and anxiety. The Gottman Method centers on improving communication and problem-solving between partners and family members, using structured exercises to rebuild trust and connection.

Finding the right approach happens together. Donya will talk with clients about their goals, try methods that fit the family's needs, and adjust the plan as progress is made. The work is collaborative - she helps prioritize what to tackle first and coaches parents toward realistic, measurable steps.

Online formats let families access therapy in ways that fit busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when discussing parenting moments or family dynamics. Phone sessions offer flexibility for quick check-ins, and live chat or text-based messaging can be used for brief coaching, follow-up, or to share notes between sessions. These options help make regular contact easier and support steady progress without long travel times.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Gottman Method

A research-based framework for couples, focused on how partners argue, repair, and stay connected. Practical and structured, with exercises to try between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Donya commonly address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, parenting and family problems, relationship difficulties, addictions, trauma, grief, and self-esteem challenges.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Donya combines client-centered listening with practical methods like cognitive behavioral techniques and solution-focused strategies to set goals and change unhelpful patterns.
What is her professional background?
She has 16 years of experience in community and clinical settings, including independent practice, residential programs, outpatient centers, and a domestic violence facility.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC - registered in Georgia with licence number GA LPC LPC011972.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Start by clicking the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
16 years
Licensed
Georgia
Languages
English

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