Donna Deage, M.S., LPC, CDCH
When thinking of what it takes to be a great counselor, several things come to mind. The ability to not only hear what someone is saying, but to actually listen with caring and empathy is of paramount importance. The next quality is to be able to actually comprehend some the things that would be most useful in helping someone improve and be able to communicate those to them in an effective way. Donna does that naturally and effortlessly. She also exudes a sense of understanding and welcome. She has told me that from an early age, people have wanted to talk with her. Even strangers have approached her in public places and shared their stories with her spontaneously. She has over 18 years of experience as a therapist which is immensely valuable. As a clinical hypnotherapist, she has furthered her abilities by employing the power of the subconscious mind to more effectively help people make the changes they desire. Her style is to be actively involved in the counseling process, not just sit back and say, "how does that make you feel." While she would never make decisions for a client, she is involved in helping propose possible solutions and options, sharing honest and open feedback and observations. If you find a counselor that can do all of these things, you've struck a gold mine. As a certified R.O.P.E.S. instructor, Donna uses group activities in creative ways to perpetuate growth and discovery. She has worked to help couples as individuals and families over all the years of the counseling experience. She also is an accomplished substance abuse counselor, having worked effectively with various types of addicts throughout her career. As a matter of fact, her initial experience with addiction counseling was gained at an inpatient addiction recovery treatment center.
By: Ron Deage, Clinical Director