Pursuing Connections Counseling PLLC

My Therapeutic Approach

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You deserve to feel supported, understood, and cared for.

A Therapy Approach for Your Healing Journey

I work primarily from an attachment-based lens using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This well-researched, evidence-based model helps individuals and couples identify emotional patterns, strengthen their connection, and experience lasting change.

EFT is rooted in attachment theory, which means it focuses on our fundamental need to feel safe, seen, and connected in close relationships. When these needs are unmet in childhood or adulthood, we often develop protective patterns that can leave us feeling stuck, disconnected, or isolated. In therapy, we’ll gently uncover these patterns, help you understand what’s driving them, and create new ways of relating that foster security, closeness, and emotional balance.

EFT is supported by decades of research and has been shown to improve relationship satisfaction, emotional well-being, and overall mental health. You can learn more about this approach at iceeft.com, the official site of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

I also draw from experiential and person-centered approaches to meet you where you are and support your unique goals. Together, we’ll explore what’s beneath the surface to help you heal, grow, and reconnect with yourself and with those you love.

How I Can Help

I support adults and couples navigating a wide range of emotional and relational challenges. Common areas of focus include:


Emotional Well-Being

  • Anxiety and stress

  • Depression and emotional exhaustion

  • Coping skills and emotional regulation

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Life transitions and overwhelm


Relationships & Connection

  • Relationship disconnection and trust issues

  • Marital and premarital concerns

  • Infidelity and betrayal

  • Divorce and separation

  • Codependency and boundary challenges

  • Peer relationships and social connection

  • Emotional closeness in couples


Personal Growth & Identity

  • Self-worth and personal growth

  • Self-esteem and confidence

  • Body positivity and identity exploration

  • Attachment patterns and relational history

  • Women’s issues and empowerment

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Care that honors your story and helps you move forward with clarity and connection.

Individual Therapy

Rebuilding Self-Worth Healing Emotional Wounds Attachment and Identity Work Therapy for Insightful, Growth-Minded Adults Overwhelm, Anxiety, and Emotional Exhaustion

Couples Therapy

Repairing After Betrayal or Rupture Communication That Connects Addressing Feeling Unseen, Unknown, or Alone in Your Relationship Longing for More Emotional Closeness

My Guiding Values

My practice is grounded in four core values: compassion, attunement, authenticity, and hope. Compassion moves me to create a warm and welcoming space where you feel seen, supported, and never alone in what you’re carrying. Attunement allows me to listen deeply and respond to your emotional needs with care, building a foundation of trust and connection. Authenticity guides our work, inviting you to show up just as you are and reconnect with your true self. Hope is the thread that carries us forward—an active belief in your capacity for healing, growth, and meaningful change.

These values are woven into every session so you feel safe, empowered, and deeply cared for.

Compassion

Deeply understanding your emotions and experiences from your perspective, creating a safe space for healing.

Attunement

Offering genuine care and emotional connection to support your well-being and foster trust.

Hope

Infusing our work together with optimism, recognizing your potential for growth and transformation, even in life’s challenges.

Authenticity

Serving as an unbiased guide to your truth, free from judgment, to help you embrace your experiences without shame.

Connect With Shelly today!

You deserve a space where you feel seen, heard, and genuinely supported. Reach out to learn how therapy can help you heal, grow, and build the connections that matter most.

Shelly Donovan, LMFTA

Guiding you back to what matters most: yourself, your relationships, and your emotional well-being.