About Cari Donovan,
Licensed Therapist in Oakland & the Bay Area
When life throws you off balance, you need a non-judgmental space and someone genuinely open-minded beside you, so you can find your footing and move forward in a way that actually feels right for you. I know, firsthand, what it's like to deal with the stress of making changes in relationships, habits, and jobs.
I'm Cari Donovan, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #68044) offering telehealth therapy, therapy intensives, and clinical supervision across California. My clients are people who are often holding it together on the outside, navigating anxiety, ADHD, LGBTQIA+ identity, and trauma, while overwhelmed underneath. I can help you find a way forward.
Clients often tell me I'm warm, real, and easy to open up to. Many share things with me they've never told anyone else. I don't just help people manage anxiety, trauma, and ADHD, I help them create real, lasting change. You don't have to explain yourself before we start.
You don't have to have it figured out.
What Often Changes
Sleep That Restores You
Fewer nightmares. Fewer 3 AM wake-ups, and when they happen, you know how to come back to yourself.
A Quieter Inner Critic
The part that says "not enough" gets softer. You recognize it as an old pattern, not the truth about you.
Relationships That Feel Solid
More honest, more mutual, more like the connection you've wanted. You stop performing and start showing up.
The Confidence To Speak Up
Saying what you think. Asking for what you need. Walking away without weeks of guilt.
A Body That Feels Safe
Less bracing. More capacity to be in your life. A settled feeling you haven't had in a long time.
Life Beyond the Grind
Work stops being the only thing that defines you. You make room again for rest, connection, and the things that make life feel worth living.
Certifications
EMDRIA Certified EMDR Clinician
Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through EMDRIA, a research-backed approach for trauma, PTSD, and anxiety.
EMDRIA Approved Consultant
If you're a therapist working toward EMDR certification, I can provide the consultation hours you need, while bringing genuine curiosity, clinical depth, and real investment in your growth as a clinician.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
(LCSW #68044)
Licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to provide psychotherapy throughout California, with 15+ years of clinical experience in public health, nonprofit, and healthcare settings.