Resume
Cassandra M. Donner, LCSW
cassandramichelle95@gmail.com
LCSW#: 229839
NPI#: 1750137188
I treat clients - individuals and couples - using an integrative approach that is actively tailored to their unique needs. My areas of focus are trauma, relationships, and sexual wellbeing. I incorporate EMDR, DBT, CBT, IFS, inner child work, polyvagal theory, embodiment practices, and client-led spirituality into my practice.
Professional Experience:
◈ Adult Clinician - Trauma & Sex Therapist
Harmony Bay Wellness
2024-present
Trauma
❖ Evaluate client resources, strengths and supports, and level of distress regarding traumatic experiences. Identify strengths and effective coping mechanisms.
❖ Guide clients through processing traumatic childhood experiences utilizing combination of EMDR, IFS, and inner child work. Explore somatic impact of past experiences and work with the body to release tension.
❖ Incorporate self-love, reparenting, and self-soothing strategies. Introduce post traumatic growth and support clients in achieving a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
Sex Therapy
❖ Engage clients in processing of current and past sexual functioning. Help clients examine the development of their ideas around sex. Work through any trauma or shame that presents with clients. Provide tools to manage anxiety or stress presenting during sex, including as related to performance issues and insecurity.
❖ Provide a safe and accepting place to explore sexual desires, kinks, and fears. Engage in cognitive restructuring and increasing self-compassion.
❖ Support clients in communication around their sexual desires with their partners. Work with clients to recognize their ideal sex life and find creative ways to move toward those goals.
❖ Help couples communicate about their sexual desires and needs. Introduce tools to remain embodied and communicative during sex. Encourage a playful and curious approach to expanding sexual practices and increasing sexual satisfaction.
◈ Wellness & Embodiment Coach
Elevate Wellness Coaching
2024-present
❖ Ensure that client has found consistent habits and systems that allow them to take care of their bodies. Review the basics of physical fitness routines, meal planning, clean eating, and the connection to mental health and wellness. Assess client self-image and teach client healthy habits to instill a positive relationship with physical appearance.
❖ Troubleshoot with clients around implementing their wellness habits. Break down barriers and find compromises where appropriate. Assist clients in prioritizing health and wellness, emphasizing the way this positively impacts entire support system. Encourage a balance between flexibility and discipline.
❖ Dig into client systems for other facets of physical wellness, including sleep hygiene, support systems and communities, self-care, sexuality, flexibility, etc. Individualize the client experience and adapt the program to meet client needs in their final sessions.
◈ Adult Clinician - Trauma Therapist
Center for Life Management
2023-2024
2022-2023
❖ Worked with youth ages four to twenty-two on accessing care for a variety of presentations including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, OCD, ADHD, and BPD.
❖ Met individually with children, teenagers, and young adults to implement coping and distress tolerance skills in the community.
❖ Introduced new strategies for emotional management including journaling, mindful meditation, cognitive restructuring, distress tolerance, and reflection.
❖ Managed paperwork and complete daily clinical documentation, quarterly and annual assessments, treatment reviews, and updated treatment plans.
❖ Worked professionally with outside agencies and stakeholders to provide comprehensive care.
◈ Social Work Intern
Center for Life Management
2021-2022
❖ Worked with adult clients presenting with a variety of severe mental illnesses, developmental delays, and behavioral challenges in an inpatient setting.
❖ Assessed client needs, collaborate with clients to identify their areas of need and to build upon their strengths.
❖ Implemented novel methods of symptom management and de-escalation techniques to clients with varying needs (e.g., incorporating picture prompts and physical activity or advocating for work in the hospital’s greenhouse).
❖ Collaborated with internal and external service providers to connect patients with necessary services.
❖ Kept informed of evidence-based treatment methods and incorporate aspects into daily care in a hospital setting.
◈ Child Care Counselor
◈ Clinical Research Assistant
◈ Clinical Research Assistant
New Hampshire Hospital
St. Ann’s Home & School
Harvard Medical School
Healing Abuse Working for Change
◈ Children’s Case Manager
Education
Bachelor’s of Science
summa cum laude
National Institute of Mental Health
◈ Safety Coordination Intern
◈ Safety Coordination Intern
2017-2023
❖ Provide trauma-informed care and interventions for children with a variety of behavioral, anxiety, attachment, and mood disorders.
Participate in crisis intervention and de-escalation using Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training principles.
Use aspects of ABA to increase healthy coping mechanisms and choices, and to reduce maladaptive behaviors.
Utilize self-directed learning to find research-supported practices for use with residents; provide unconditional positive regard and strength-based therapeutic care.
Implement novel and holistic methods into the group home including yoga and physical activity, meditation, and nutritional support for residents.
2018-2019
❖ Offered empathetic support to individuals and family members affected with severe mental illness.
❖ Provided culturally competent daily interaction with Anabaptist and English participants through recruitment, scheduling, and neurocognitive testing.
❖ Interviewed family members regarding affected individuals and provided support while discussing sensitive subject matters using the Family Interview for Genetic Studies (FIGS).
❖ Performed neurocognitive testing and psychiatric treatment for children with a range of psychiatric presentations.
2016-2017
❖ Developed clinical skills through clinical interview (SCID) shadowing, participant recruitment, and screening interviews.
❖ Therapeutic interaction with PTSD-diagnosed volunteer research participants.
❖ Data entry and other daily administrative duties.
◈ Safety Coordination Intern
2014-2015
❖ Developed critical thinking skills to brainstorm safety plans for survivors of domestic violence; problem-solved with clients to improve their safety.
❖ Conducted clinical interviews with clients who suffered from physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
❖ Observed and reported on potential external factors that influenced psychopathology, including but not limited to substance abuse and income level.
◈ Safety Coordination Intern
❖ Worked with adults specializing in posttraumatic stress, borderline personality disorder, and childhood trauma.
❖ Used an eclectic approach that includes inner child work, internal family systems, connection, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, body work, and meditation.
❖ Worked closely with each individual to discover a tailored approach to the therapeutic relationship and to identify needs and goals.