Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc.

12/25/2025

12/23/2025

www.scottdonovanlmft.com

12/08/2025

🌟 Realistic Holiday Survival Guide: Navigating Stress, Finances, and Family Dynamics 🌟

The holidays can be a beautiful time, but let's be honest: they are also complicated, stressful, and often messy. At Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services Inc., we want to give you real, actionable tips for navigating the reality of the coming season:

1. Manage the "Money Talk" Stress
Set a Hard Financial Boundary: Before you start shopping or planning, agree on a strict spending limit and stick to it. Gifts don't equal love. A thoughtful, inexpensive experience or homemade item often means more than something bought under financial duress.

Communicate Clearly: It's okay to tell friends or family, "We are simplifying gifts this year to focus on presence over presents."

2. Pre-Plan for Difficult Family Dynamics
Create an Exit Strategy: If a gathering involves a challenging relative, agree with your partner/family on a secret code word or signal. When the word is used, you both know it's time to politely leave without explanation.

Limit Your Exposure: If visiting a certain person or house is triggering, it is completely acceptable to shorten your visit, or even say "no" to the invitation entirely. Your mental health is the priority.

3. Give Yourself Grace for Grief & Sadness
The holidays don't magically erase loss, loneliness, or past trauma. If you are experiencing grief (for a loved one, a past relationship, or simply for "what used to be"), schedule time to honor that emotion.

Ditch the Obligation: If hosting or attending an event feels unbearable this year, allow yourself a quiet, restorative day at home.

4. Don't Let Food Be the Focus of Anxiety
Holiday meals are a source of connection, not a test. Practice mindful eating (enjoying the flavor and conversation) instead of restrictive dieting or guilt-fueled overeating. Seek support if food anxiety starts to take over the joy of gathering.

Remember, the goal is survival and connection, not perfection. We are here to support you through the good moments and the hard ones.

If the stress or complexity of the holidays feels overwhelming, please reach out.

📞 Connect with Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services Inc. : 760-961-5353
🌐 Visit us:

Discover a path to healing with Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc. Treating trauma, depression, and anxiety. Your well-being is our priority.

12/04/2025

🌟 12 Days of Therapy 🌟

Day 1: Safety & Connection
🕊️ Day 1 of the 12 Days of Therapy:
Healing begins with safety.
Before we explore your story, we first create a space where your nervous system can breathe again.
At Donovan Individual & Family Counseling, we lead with compassion, pacing, and attuned presence.
Your healing starts with feeling safe, seen, and supported.

Day 2: Understanding Your Nervous System
💛 Day 2:
Trauma lives in the body—not because you’re “broken,” but because your nervous system adapted to survive.
We use somatic and attachment-based approaches to help you reconnect with and regulate your body.
Your body isn’t the enemy. It’s the messenger.

Day 3: You Don’t Have to “Just Get Over It”
🌱 Day 3:
Trauma isn’t a mindset problem.
Anxiety isn’t a choice.
Depression isn’t laziness.
Therapy gives you tools and support to rewrite these patterns with compassion—not shame.

Day 4: Healing Attachment Wounds
🤝 Day 4:
Whether you grew up feeling unseen, dismissed, or alone, attachment wounds can follow you into adulthood.
The good news: attachment can be repaired.
Therapy gives you a place to experience safe connection and build new patterns of trust.

Day 5: Working With Parts of You
🧩 Day 5:
Ever feel like “part of me wants to heal… but another part is scared”?
That’s normal.
Parts work honors ALL sides of you—your protector parts, wounded parts, and resilient parts.
We don’t push them away. We help them work together.

Day 6: Trauma-Informed Support
🛡️ Day 6:
Healing trauma isn’t about reliving the past.
It’s about reclaiming your present.
Through EMDR, somatic practices, and grounding tools, we help you process safely and at your own pace.

Day 7: You Deserve Rest
✨ Day 7:
If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or stretched thin—your body might be asking for rest.
In therapy, rest isn’t a luxury.
It’s part of your healing.
Your nervous system needs softness, not hustle.

Day 8: Strength in Vulnerability
💬 Day 8:
Opening up in therapy takes courage.
Sharing your story is not weakness—
It’s the first step toward transformation.
You don’t have to carry it alone.

Day 9: Healing Relationships
❤️ Day 9:
Whether you’re navigating conflict, disconnection, or patterns that repeat, therapy can help you:
• communicate more openly
• set boundaries
• repair trust
• deepen emotional intimacy
Healing the relationship starts with healing the self.

Day 10: Grief & Loss
🕯️ Day 10:
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline.
It comes in waves.
In therapy, we sit with your grief rather than rushing it.
Your loss matters. Your story matters. You matter.

Day 11: You Can Heal at Any Age
🌄 Day 11:
Whether you’re 18 or 80, healing is always possible.
Trauma, anxiety, and old patterns don’t define you.
Therapy gives you the space to grow into the person you’ve always deserved to be.

Day 12: Take the First Step
🌟 Day 12:
If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, this is your sign.
You deserve support.
You deserve healing.
You deserve a life that feels peaceful, stable, and connected.
📩 If you’re ready, reach out today for a consultation.
We’re here to walk with you every step of the way.

www.scottdonovanlmft.com

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12/01/2025

We have hired a new administrator, and one of her tasks is to get our Facebook business page to 500 (+) followers. We have given her the ability to gain a bonus if she can do this by 12/31/25. It is a big task, and I am asking anyone who follows us to help Kaitlyn reach her goal and get the bonus by sharing this page with others. https://www.facebook.com/scottdonovanlmft
Thanks, and have a wonderful December.
Scott

Offering services in-person in Apple Valley, CA. Across California and Texas, through telehealth. We see children, adults, couples, and families, and offer group sessions. Specializing in PTSD, Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety.

11/29/2025

🌟 Holiday Mental Health Tips from Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc. 🌟

The holiday season can be a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but it can also bring stress, overwhelm, grief, and complicated family dynamics. It’s okay if this time of year feels challenging. Here are a few therapist-approved tips to help you care for your mental and emotional well-being during the holidays:

✨ 1. Set Boundaries

You’re allowed to say no. Protect your time, energy, and emotional space by creating boundaries that honor your needs.

✨ 2. Manage Expectations

The “perfect holiday” doesn’t exist. Let go of pressure—focus on meaningful moments instead of ideal outcomes.

✨ 3. Stick to a Routine

Sleep, movement, hydration, and regular meals help regulate your mood and reduce stress, even during a busy season.

✨ 4. Create Moments of Calm

Schedule breaks to breathe, take a walk, journal, or simply pause. Small resets can prevent burnout.

✨ 5. Acknowledge Your Feelings

Holidays can bring up grief, loneliness, or unresolved emotions. Whatever you feel is valid—give yourself permission to experience it without judgment.

✨ 6. Reach Out for Support

You don't have to navigate this season alone. Connect with trusted friends, family, or a mental health professional when you need extra support.

💙 We’re Here for You

At Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc., we provide compassionate, client-centered support for individuals, couples, and families. If the holidays bring up stress, anxiety, or emotional challenges, we’re here to help you navigate them with care.

📞 Contact us to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.
760-961-5353
Kaitlyn@scottdonovanlmft.com
www.scottdonovanlmft.com

Call now to connect with business.

11/24/2025

I have a blank wall in my office waiting area and want to cover it in Christmas cards. If you would like to send us a Christmas card (it will be seen by others) that I can put on our office wall send it to:

Donovan Individualand Family Counseling Services Inc
Scott Donovan
18888 Highway 18, Suite 106
Apple Valley, CA 92307
(760) 961-5353
www.scottdonovanlmft.com

I will post pictures weekly.
Thanks,
Scott

Offering services in-person in Apple Valley, CA. Across California and Texas, through telehealth. We see children, adults, couples, and families, and offer group sessions. Specializing in PTSD, Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety.

11/18/2025

We are in need of a part-time in-person AMFT or APCC to learn the deeper work needed to do trauma therapy.

This is a part-time hybrid role as an Associate Therapist at Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc., located in Apple Valley, CA, with flexibility for some remote work. The role involves daily tasks related to counseling and therapy services.

We are currently seeking an associate AMFT or APCC who can provide counseling services to at least 10 clients per week. The hourly compensation ranges from $40.00 to $50.00 per clinical hour, depending on the number of clients. We also offer $17.00 per administrative hour. Counseling sessions can be conducted in-person at the Apple Valley, CA office, with the option for some hybrid sessions. This position may require weekly supervision and attendance. This is a W2 employment opportunity with the possibility for growth and learning.

Key Responsibilities
This position involves participating in 1-2 hours of weekly one-on-one or group supervision, either through telehealth or in-person. The ideal candidate should be open to working with children, adults, families, and couples dealing with depression, anxiety, and trauma. It is essential to have a strong desire to learn and be willing to be trained in trauma work. Being an active part of the team is important, as opposed to just being an employee.

This position requires the ability to work with clients of all ages. The ideal candidate should have experience or a strong desire to specialize in helping clients dealing with trauma, depression, and anxiety. It is essential that the candidate is registered with the BBS as an Associate and does not have a subsequent number. A willingness to learn and work in the field of trauma and attachment is a must, and the possibility of pursuing EMDR training should also be considered. For more information, please visit www.scottdonovanlmft.com

Skills & Experience
Qualifications

Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field
Must be able to see clients in the Apple Valley, CA office
Licensed Associate Therapist with an active BBS number, no subsequent numbers.
Experience in individual and family counseling
Strong communication and active listening skills
Empathy and compassion for clients
Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical standards
Strong organizational and time management skills
Knowledge of therapeutic techniques and interventions

Send resume and letter of intent to Kaitlyn@scottdonovanlmft.com
We are also looking for an in-person licensed therapist.

Discover a path to healing with Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services, Inc. Treating trauma, depression, and anxiety. Your well-being is our priority.

11/18/2025

Our new administrator just put out our November newsletter. Want to see it? Subscribe here

At Donovan Individual and Family Counseling Services Inc., we believe that mental wellness is a lifelong journey—and you don’t have to walk it alone. By subscribing to our monthly newsletter, you'll gain access to expert insights on mental health, practical tips for strengthening relationships, ...