Donna Sarvela , LCSW

Donna Sarvela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with licensure in both Utah and California and 13 years of professional clinical experience. She practices from a strengths-based perspective, helping people navigate stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and the challenges of life transitions. Donna focuses on empowering clients to explore their thoughts and feelings openly and to pursue change with intention and support.

She aims to create an environment where people can share without fear of judgment and where practical strategies and personal strengths are used to address symptoms and patterns that get in the way of a fuller life. Donna recognizes that seeking help takes courage and partners with clients to set realistic goals and develop tools for coping, recovery, and growth. Her approach centers on collaboration, respect, and steady support throughout the therapeutic process.

As an LCSW, Donna brings clinical training in social work alongside years of hands-on experience, offering guidance for those facing emotional pain, addictive behaviors, and difficult life changes. She is committed to helping individuals move toward greater well-being and a more satisfying day-to-day life.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Donna Sarvela integrates Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside mindfulness techniques to support people working through stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, and depressive symptoms. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and collaboration, inviting clients to lead the pace and focus of sessions while the therapist provides acceptance and support. This approach helps individuals clarify values, increase self-awareness, and build confidence in making changes.

CBT offers practical, skills-based work to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to replace them with more adaptive patterns. It is useful for managing anxiety, mood shifts, and patterns that sustain addictive behaviors. Mindfulness Therapy introduces present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance practices that can reduce reactivity and improve coping with difficult emotions.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and Donna works collaboratively with clients to determine what fits best with their needs, goals, and preferences. Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to access consistent care, offering flexibility to schedule sessions around work, family, and daily obligations. These options support ongoing engagement and make it simpler to maintain momentum in therapy.