Donna Handy, LMHC
Licensed Clinician
Sometimes life changes in ways we never expected. A medical diagnosis, traumatic experience, loss, caregiving role, or major life transition can leave you feeling as though life has been divided into a “before” and an “after.” Therapy can be a place to make sense of what happened, reconnect with yourself, and begin figuring out what comes next.
I work with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, medical trauma, chronic illness, grief and loss, caregiver stress, and significant life transitions. I am EMDR trained and a transplant survivor. As a Christian, I also welcome clients who would like their faith incorporated into therapy.
I understand firsthand that the emotional impact of a serious medical experience doesn’t necessarily end when the medical crisis is over. As a two-time transplant survivor, I bring a unique perspective to my work with people navigating serious illness, hospitalization, transplantation, disability, and medical uncertainty. At the same time, I know that my experience is not your experience. My lived experience helps me understand the world you may be navigating without assuming I know exactly what it has been like for you.
My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, genuine, and active. I want you to feel comfortable showing up as you are without worrying about saying the “right” thing. I’ll listen and validate, but I won’t just sit back and leave you wondering where therapy is going. I’ll ask questions, help you recognize patterns and make connections, teach practical skills, and gently challenge you when I think it can help you move toward change. As an EMDR-trained therapist, I can also incorporate EMDR when it is appropriate for your needs and goals.
Faith can also have a meaningful place in therapy. As a Christian, I welcome clients who want to talk openly about their relationship with God or incorporate prayer, Scripture, Christian values, or questions of faith alongside the clinical work we are doing. How faith is incorporated is always guided by you and what feels meaningful and appropriate for you.
I believe we are more than the hardest things we’ve experienced. Whether you’re healing from trauma, adjusting to a life you didn’t anticipate, or simply trying to feel more like yourself again, you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin.