Lucia Donadio, MSW Candidate
Intern Therapist

What should your client know about you?

I have hands-on experience with populations of all ages, from 5 to 105. I have worked in a school setting as well as a senior living community for much of my life, and have enjoyed working with those from many different backgrounds.

What is your approach to therapy?

My approach to therapy is to meet the client where they’re at. Together, we can develop a plan that will best suit the client’s needs and set them up to live their most successful life. Therapy is a learning environment, and the client is the expert. We can teach each other so much throughout our journey together.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

The client can expect to feel more in control of their own destiny; I am simply there to guide them and offer an outside perspective.

What has been your path to becoming a therapist?

My personal and professional experiences have shaped my path toward becoming a therapist. As an undergraduate student at Villanova University, I found myself gravitating toward classes and extracurricular activities that centered around mental health and wellness. Following graduation, I accepted a job as an assistant teacher at a primary school in Seville, Spain. While I loved working with this population, I was much less enthusiastic about teaching the students the “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” lyrics, and instead felt passionate about helping them with personal issues, whether that be school struggles or interpersonal relationships. After my time ended in Spain, I began working at a senior living community in Monmouth County, New Jersey. I felt similarly in that I wanted to help them with mental health-related issues, but my credentials only let me do so much. Currently, I am studying at the University of Southern California for my Master of Social Work, so that I can become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.