Donna Lemaitre, BACP

Donna Lemaitre is a counsellor with eight years' experience and membership of the BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She works in independent practice in the United Kingdom and offers online support to people facing loss, anxiety, relationship strain and other life stresses. Donna aims to create a warm, non-judgemental space where people can speak at their own pace and feel heard.

Donna's main stance is person-centred, which means she treats the client as the expert in their life and follows the client's priorities. She also draws on a mix of approaches, including cognitive behavioural techniques, attachment-based thinking and emotion-focused work, tailoring interventions to each person's needs. She aims to help people understand their patterns, build confidence, and take practical steps forward.

Her background includes volunteer counselling for a mental health charity and three years providing bereavement support at a hospice. These roles shaped her experience with grief, trauma, depression and anxiety and deepened her interest in supporting people through major life changes. She has completed continuing professional development in areas such as trauma, abuse, bereavement and low self-esteem.

Donna has completed a certificate in online and telephone counselling and is undertaking further advanced training in psychotherapeutic and integrative counselling. She explains work in clear, straightforward terms and keeps sessions focused on what the client wants to achieve.

If someone is unsure whether counselling is right, Donna invites an initial conversation to discuss concerns and see if working together feels like a good fit.

How Donna’s approaches translate to online counselling

Donna uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and to clarify what matters most so they can take small, values-led steps. This can help with anxiety, low mood and life transitions.

She also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy, which looks at how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and closeness with others. That approach is often useful for people worried about connection, trust or commitment issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Donna will listen to a person's main concerns and goals and suggest methods that fit their needs and preferences. Decisions about whether to focus on thinking patterns, emotions or relationship patterns are made together in session.

If you are thinking about online therapy, check which session formats are currently offered before booking. The biography notes Donna holds a certificate in online and telephone counselling, so do confirm whether telephone or other options are available. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around family, work and travel, reduce time spent commuting and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight.