Morgan Donahue

If you tend to put others first, struggle with a harsh inner critic, or feel exhausted in a caregiving role, you’re not alone! Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, caring individuals who have spent much of their lives focusing on others’ needs while feeling disconnected from their own.

I support youth (16+), adults, and older adults navigating people-pleasing, perfectionism, anxiety, self-criticism, complex trauma, attachment wounds, grief and loss, caregiving stress, and the emotional impact of dementia. I also work with individuals who feel stuck in difficult relationships with food or body image, or who are living with an eating disorder.

My approach is integrative, relational, and trauma-informed.  I primarily draw from modalities like Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, self-compassion, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I also continue to learn and engage in professional development (e.g., books, podcasts, academic articles, and research, including engaging with stories of lived experience and different ways of knowing), self-reflection, and regular supervision.

Many clients arrive hoping to quickly “solve” their struggles. Over time, we will discover that meaningful change isn’t about finding the right answer, but about reconnecting with yourself and your authenticity. My role isn’t to provide ready-made solutions. Instead, I'll support you in developing your own inner resources, self-trust, and compassion. Many clients I support carry long-standing beliefs, such as “I’m not good enough” or “I'm responsible.” Together, we'll explore where these beliefs may have come from and begin to relate to them with greater understanding and compassion.

Whether you are self-aware and have spent years analyzing your thoughts, behaviours, and relationships or you don't know where to begin and are only starting to notice difficult patterns and experiences, you will be met with care and support for your struggle.  In our work together, we gently shift away from constant overthinking and toward reconnecting with your emotions, safe body awareness, and deeper needs. We'll move at a pace that feels safe for your nervous system. A strong relationship and moving slow, steady, and safe often creates the most lasting change.

In sessions, you can expect me to invite you be engaged, calm, curious, and silly (at appropriate times). I deeply value the relationships I develop and cultivate with my clients and share gratitude for you inviting me into your world.  I invite you to reach out for a ~20 minute free consultation for us to connect, explore working together, and for you to ask questions before starting your counselling journey.