About

Hi!
I am Donna Freeman. Please feel free to call me Donna, or Dr. Donna, however you feel comfortable addressing me.

Current Clients
I am currently accepting (1) individuals (mostly women), and (2) couples as clients. They can come
to me through Find A Therapist, Faithful, Pride, or ReGain.

Concerning individual clients, I accept those who have been traumatized by romantic
relationships, marriage, separation, or divorce. I have had years of successful experience supporting healing and a better future for individuals who have been hurt.

I also accept those who need to address childhood or adulthood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. In addition, I counsel individuals who have experienced, or witnessed, violent crime, or a man-made or a natural disaster. Individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD can make good progress, but must first be evaluated for possible medication by a psychiatrist and comply with their recommendations.

I train couples in the art of communication and conflict resolution. Then I make myself available for conflict mediation sessions as needed. This is done in order to help them use their skills correctly with each other.

Education
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I specialized in Mental Health Counseling at the masters and doctoral levels. I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, in 1990. I also identify myself as a Christian Counselor.

Past Work Experience
I have over 21 years of experience working with adults and children, in individual, couples, and group settings. I have worked in my own private practice, group practice, agency, and community settings.

I have also been an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Arkansas. I worked as an Instructor at Louisiana State University during the last year of my doctoral education.

About Me as a Therapist
Clients find me mildly extroverted, friendly, empathic, ethical, conscientious, and sometimes straightforward. This means I interject my thoughts, recommendations, ideas, and am more talkative than the quiet, nodding stereotype of therapists. Clients can always count on me to be honest, caring, and to help them in ways that makes sense to them. I am a stickler for ethics and boundaries. I can be firm if needed, but it comes from a heart of compassion and caring for my clients' wellbeing.

Occasionally, I can add a little self deprecating humor! I think many of us should learn to laugh at ourselves. Make no mistake, however, I have a very real confidence in myself and my abilities. I always love it when my clients make me laugh too!

My Counseling Methods
I provide clients emotional support, insight, and adaptive perspectives on themselves and their situations. I can work in either a structured or non-structured manner, depending on what clients find more useful. I will teach you to feel, identify, challenge, and replace all-negative (irrational) thinking.

You will be taught how to replace this with with "possibility" (rational) thinking on a regular basis. This habit opens doors for you to prepare (mentally and through action) for the possibility of positive outcomes and healthier, adaptive feelings. This, indirectly, opens your life to more happiness.

Healthy emotional processing is another critical part of well-being. My clients learn how to safely and effectively express painful, suppressed emotions. This takes trust and a feeling of being safe with me and our process. It may not happen at first, but it will happen.

I use Gestalt and similar types of in-session exercises. Clients express and integrate, in the moment, emotions which have been suppressed for various reasons. Examples include acting out scenarios, writing, artistic expression, fun activities, and formulating alternative endings to otherwise negative experiences. This can result in eye-opening and life changing revelations, both large and small. This is a major part of healing, which means to reclaim lost parts of yourself.

About Me Personally
I grew up in Mississippi. I now live in Louisiana. I enjoy reading non-fiction, especially any kind of social science research. I love watching Korean dramas, and documentaries about anything!
I love animals, especially dogs. I have a beautiful Toy Poodle. Her hair is a lovely light Apricot, like mine was a few years ago! I love learning, professional writing, horseback riding, long walks, going to church, dancing, and entertaining friends and family.

I am happy to give “homework” to clients who want it.

Spirituality
I am a Christian Counselor, Some clients seek to integrate their spirituality, Christian or otherwise, into therapy. I
accept everyone, regardless of their faith tradition, or lack of it. Clients with a Catholic, Protestant or other Christian background will be very comfortable with me.

I believe that everyone needs a positive relationship with God, in order to be whole, let go of things one cannot control, and feel confident going into their future. This does not mean one trusts outside oneself, but trusts oneself in relationship with God for their ultimate good.

Sexual Orientation
Most clients who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or questioning their sexuality will also feel comfortable with me. I do not feel professionally prepared to deal with the special issues faced by transgender individuals. I continue to learn in many areas of mental health, including this one.

Non-Discrimination
I treat all clients with the utmost respect, empathy, and positive regard, regardless of their national origin, race, religion, immigrant status, background, disability, language, or sexual orientation or identification.

I am happy that you have considered me as your therapist. If I can provide any further information, please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to joining you on your journey to a happier and more fulfilling life. Thank you for reading!

Donna Freeman, Ph.D., L.P.C., BC-TMH