Dr. LaDonna Butler
Dr. LaDonna Butler
(she/her)
Hello — I’m Dr. LaDonna Butler, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator (CDWF), and DBT-informed therapist. I help individuals and families — especially Black women and other marginalized communities — reconnect with themselves, heal deeply, and live with more courage and self-trust. My clients often carry the heavy stories of anxiety, grief, substance use, relationship conflicts, or the quiet exhaustion that comes with always having to hold it all together. In our work, I blend evidence-based approaches like DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) — building skills for emotion regulation, mindfulness, and healthy relationships — with narrative healing and The Daring Way™, Brené Brown’s framework for shame resilience and wholehearted living. Together, we’ll create a space where your identities and experiences are honored. You’ll have room to tell your story, develop practical tools, and grow new ways of being that feel more aligned, authentic, and free. Your story matters. Your healing matters. Let’s start where you are — and build from there. 🌻 When you’re ready, book your first session and take one bold step toward the life you want to live!
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we’ll take time to slow down and get to know you — not just your symptoms, but your story. I’ll ask about what brought you here, what you hope for, and what has felt heavy to carry alone. Together, we’ll talk through your concerns, set goals, and begin mapping out a plan that feels safe, realistic, and meaningful to you. You’ll leave with an idea of what our work together will look like — whether that’s learning DBT skills to handle big emotions, exploring the roots of shame and self-doubt, or finding new language for your story. Most importantly, you’ll leave knowing this is your space to show up exactly as you are — no masks needed, no pretending required.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to hold safe, honest space for people to tell the hard parts of their story — and feel fully seen in their humanity. With years of experience as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, and DBT therapist, I blend evidence-based skills with cultural practices, including somatic practices and narrative healing. What makes my work unique is that I deeply understand what it means to stand strong in the face of chaos, power struggles, and generational patterns that keep us stuck. I’m not afraid to name what others won’t — the patterns that control us, the quiet costs of always holding it all together, the stories we carry that shape how we show up. Clients trust me because I help them build real, practical skills (DBT, shame resilience, boundary work) and explore the deeper layers of self-trust, courage, and freedom. I help people loosen their grip on what no longer serves them, breathe deeper, and practice new ways of being — without shame. I know how to stand in hard spaces with grace and directness because I’ve done it all my life. I also know what it means to have a space for joy and celebration. My greatest gift is helping people reclaim their power and their breath — so they can live more fully, and more freely, on their own terms.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work best with individuals, families, and communities who feel ready to explore the stories they carry and the patterns that keep them stuck. My ideal clients are navigating big emotions, life transitions, grief, anxiety, or the impact of generational and systemic trauma. Many feel the weight of being “strong” for everyone else, yet long for a safe place to set that weight down and reconnect with themselves. I’m here for people who want to build practical skills like emotion regulation and boundaries while also digging deeper — rewriting old narratives, cultivating shame resilience, and imagining new ways of being that feel more honest, kind, and free. If you’re ready to feel seen, to tell your truth, and to grow forward with care and intention — you’re in the right place. 🌻
About Dr. LaDonna Butler
I identify as
Serves ages
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help people find real tools to navigate big emotions, build healthier relationships, and create more ease in daily life. Together, we work on practical skills for managing stress, setting boundaries, and staying grounded — all while honoring your lived experiences and cultural context.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I have years of experience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people face difficult thoughts and emotions with more compassion and less struggle. In my practice, I guide clients to notice what shows up inside them, accept what they can’t control, and commit to actions that align with their deepest values. ACT helps us unhook from unhelpful patterns, connect to what truly matters, and build a life of purpose and freedom — all in a safe and affirming space.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
My experience with SFBT centers on guiding clients to identify what’s working, clarify their goals, and take small, practical steps forward. Together, we focus less on problems and more on possibilities — building hope, highlighting resilience, and creating real, doable change, one step at a time.