- Practical skills
- Mindfulness based
- Goal focused
About Donald
Donald McRae is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) based in North Carolina. He brings 25 years of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and sleep problems. He works with people who are managing life changes, caregiver strain, workplace stress, and issues like ADHD and compassion fatigue.
He uses straightforward, evidence-informed methods. Sessions focus on practical skills people can try between meetings. Donald blends cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance-based practices to help clients notice unhelpful patterns and try different responses. He also draws on dialectical behavior therapy tools and motivational interviewing to support behavior change.
Donald has worked in clinics, on military bases, and with nonprofit organizations. That background shaped his approach to common life stresses and trauma. He has facilitated groups as well as provided individual therapy, and he describes his style as nonjudgmental and compassionate.
In the first meetings he helps people set clear, manageable goals and picks a few concrete strategies to practice. Sessions often include skills training, short experiments, and check-ins about what worked. He encourages steady progress rather than overnight fixes.
People who prefer direct, skills-focused work may find his approach helpful. He invites those ready to reflect and try new behaviors to begin with a short matching questionnaire and a scheduling step to see if his way of working fits their needs.
Approaches used in online sessions and what they do
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take meaningful steps even when difficult thoughts or feelings show up. It can help with anxiety, depression, and sleep struggles by shifting attention toward actions that matter. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, behaviors, and feelings interact and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. It is commonly used for anxiety, mood concerns, and insomnia-related habits.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose methods based on the person’s goals, daily life, and what has or hasn’t helped before. That may mean trying a few techniques and adjusting the plan as progress is reviewed.
Please confirm available session formats before booking, as options are shown during scheduling. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, provide shorter or longer check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also allows practicing skills in everyday contexts and returning quickly to real-life challenges discussed in sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
South Carolina, North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly address?
He supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, sleep difficulties, relationship and intimacy issues, and related life changes.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His style is direct and skills-focused, combining practical exercises with reflective conversation to help people try new ways of coping.
What is his background and experience?
He has 25 years of experience providing therapy in mental health clinics, military settings, and nonprofit agencies, and has led group and individual work.
What credentials and region are listed?
He holds LPC and LCMHC credentials and practices in North Carolina.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what formats are used?
Please confirm current session formats before booking by following the Start Therapy process; session options are listed during scheduling.
How do fees and starting therapy work?
Cost varies with location and availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; begin by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire.