Charlene Donahoe

My path to becoming a therapist began with a deep curiosity about human behavior, emotional pain, and the ways we learn to survive experiences that overwhelm us. I initially pursued counseling psychology with a desire to help others better understand themselves and move toward healing. Along the way, I also returned to my own personal therapy, where I quickly discovered that traditional talk therapy alone didn’t fully address the deeper layers of what I—and many others—were experiencing. That realization led me toward trauma-informed and body-based approaches to healing, including Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based practices. Through this work, I developed a deep respect for the connection between the mind and body, and how unresolved trauma can live not just in thoughts and emotions, but in the nervous system itself. I specialize in working with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, attachment wounds, and patterns such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, and chronic stress. I also work frequently with individuals experiencing burnout, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. My approach is especially supportive for those who feel “stuck” in insight alone—people who understand their patterns but still struggle to shift them at a deeper, embodied level. My style is warm, collaborative, and grounded in creating emotional safety. I integrate somatic and parts-based work to help clients reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous system, and build a more compassionate internal relationship. Rather than focusing only on changing thoughts, we also pay attention to what the body is holding and how different parts of you are trying to protect or express unmet needs. Clients often come to me feeling exhausted from carrying too much for too long—emotionally, relationally, or internally. Together, we work toward helping you feel more grounded, connected, and present in your life, with greater capacity to respond rather than react. My goal is to support meaningful and sustainable healing—not just symptom management—so that you can move toward a life that feels more aligned, regulated, and authentically yours.