Chandler Donny

For me, therapy begins with creating a relationship where you feel safe enough to be yourself. Before I am an EMDR therapist, I am a talk therapist. Building trust and creating a genuine connection come first because doing meaningful work together is difficult if you do not feel comfortable with the person sitting across from you.

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My approach is relational and person-centered, which means I see you as the expert on your own life. I may offer another perspective, help you recognize patterns, or challenge you when the time is right, but I also recognize that I am seeing your life from the outside. I want my clients to feel comfortable telling me when I am off base, asking questions, or saying when something simply does not feel right. Therapy should be something we do together, not something that is done to you.

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I believe change requires a willingness to stay curious about ourselves, including the parts that may be uncomfortable to look at. As much as we sometimes wish changing another person could solve everything, therapy often asks us to notice our own patterns, understand where they came from, and decide what we want to do differently. That does not mean every session needs to be intensely focused on change. Sometimes you need to be challenged, and sometimes you need someone to sit with you and listen. Part of my role is learning the difference.

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I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, and my Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Temple University. I am currently working toward professional licensure and am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Level One Relational Life Therapy. My relational training has helped deepen my understanding of how our upbringing and early experiences can influence the patterns we develop and the ways we connect with others.

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My therapeutic approach incorporates Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I am especially passionate about trauma work and the opportunity to help people process experiences they once believed they would never be able to move through.

What does all of that actually mean when you are sitting in a room with me? Some days, our work may be structured and focused. Other days, you may need to vent, brain dump, slow things down, or talk about something completely different from what we planned. Consent is incredibly important to me, and I regularly check in with my clients about what they are ready for and what they need that day. I cannot do the work for both of us, but I can meet you where you are and walk alongside you as you do it.

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You can also expect therapy with me to have room for humor. The things that bring people to therapy can be incredibly serious, but I do not believe therapy has to feel serious every minute. We can laugh. We can be creative. We can have moments of lightness while still making room for the difficult things. You are a person first, and I want therapy to feel like a place where you are allowed to be one.

If you are nervous about starting therapy, that is okay too. You can ask questions, take your time, and decide whether I am the right therapist for you. Finding the right fit matters. More than anything, I want you to feel that you can come into the room without fear of judgment and be met with kindness, grace, and the freedom to be yourself.