Hello! I’m glad that you are here…

Donnisha Lavigne, MS, LPC, NCC

I’m a licensed therapist with over 8 years of clinical experience. My therapeutic approach is deeply rooted in compassion, authenticity, and lived understanding. As a Black woman, a licensed professional counselor, and someone who lives with bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and chronic illness, I bring both clinical expertise and personal insight into the healing space. I believe growth is possible when we feel seen, heard, and safe to show up as our full selves.

Together, we’ll explore the patterns that keep you stuck, deepen your self-awareness, and develop coping strategies that actually fit your real life. My work is grounded in trauma-informed principles and includes cognitive-behavioral and dialectical tools, motivational interviewing techniques, and lived experience-based support, all tailored to your unique needs.

Therapy with me isn’t rigid or clinical—it’s relational, collaborative, and grounded in mutual respect. Whether you’re navigating grief, burnout, identity, or the unique weight of being a therapist yourself, you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to walk alongside you on your healing journey.

How my journey began…

I first encountered mental health challenges at the age of 13. By God’s grace, I made it to 25 without psychiatric intervention—though I carried silent struggles that might have eased with the right support. After completing my undergraduate degree in 2015, I went on to earn my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December 2017, officially graduating in May 2018. Just two weeks later, I experienced a life-altering loss: the sudden death of one of my closest friends. Within two months, I was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Despite my training as a counselor, accepting my own diagnosis was deeply challenging. I found myself caught in an emotional spiral, trying to balance my professional identity with a personal battle I hadn’t expected. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. It was there, in that space of surrender and grace, that I realized change was not only necessary but possible. Not just to survive, but to live.

These personal experiences, combined with over seven years of professional experience across correctional settings, inpatient hospitals, community mental health, and private practice, have refined not only my clinical lens but my capacity to lead, hold space, and advocate for others.

“One of the most important lessons that life has taught me is knowing what it means to have the will to live”
— Donnisha Lavigne, MS, LPC, NCC

Fun Facts About Me:

~ I have a Maltipoo named Loki

~ I love Marvel and DC Comic Book Movies

~ I'm an avid reader

~ My favorite colors are purple and pink

~ I have a Maltipoo named Loki ~ I love Marvel and DC Comic Book Movies ~ I'm an avid reader ~ My favorite colors are purple and pink

  • EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

    Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Mercer University)

    Additional Coursework in Addictions Counseling (Capella University)​

    Bachelors of Science in Psychology (Georgia Gwinnett College)

    1-Year Clinical Internship as Therapist Intern (Riverwoods Behavioral Health)

    2017-2018 Minority Youth Fellow- Addictions Counseling (NBCC)

  • THEORETICAL ORIENTATION & APPROACHES

    Humanistic Therapy

    Strengths-Based

    Trauma-Informed

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Person-Centered Therapy

    Solution-Focused Therapy

    Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (Informed)

    Cognitive Processing Therapy

    Interpersonal Therapy

    Eclectic Approach as Appropriate

  • CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

    Private Psychiatric Hospitals

    Crisis Stabilization Units

    Correctional Counseling

    Community Mental Health

    Outpatient Mental Health

    Private Practice in Mental Health

    Crisis Intervention

    Psychiatric Admissions Department

    Community Services Board

  • CLINICAL EXPERTISE

    Correctional Mental Health

    Healthcare Professionals- including nurses, doctors, dentists, social workers, therapists, etc.

    Mood Disorders- Including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

    Anxiety Disorders- Including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), anxiety disorder unspecified

    Trauma-and-Stressor Related Disorders- Including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders, acute stress disorder

    Women's Issues- Including life transitions, parenting, relationships, career satisfaction, life stressors

    ​Addictions Counseling- including substance abuse and sex addictions

    Clinical Evaluations- Diagnostic Evaluations, Crisis Evaluation & Intervention, Biopsychosocial Evaluations, Substance Abuse Evaluations

"Seeking guidance is a brave step towards healing and self-discovery."