Julia Massay-Donato

Hello, my name is Julia Massay-Donato. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have been practicing for almost 8 years. I live in upstate New York and love spending time outside with my daughter, husband, and puppy. I come from an Italian background with a large external family living around me. I have traveled to many countries and studied in Queens, Nebraska, and Colorado. I feel strongly that all individuals deserve to feel and experience their best selves, no matter what has happened in their lives. We have one life, and I want everyone to feel they can make the most of it. I work to build very strong relationships with my clients to ensure they are receiving the best care they need. I have a lot of experience with many types of populations and can utilize many theories depending on need. I am dedicated and motivated to help you and will work as hard or long as needed to ensure you feel your best.

My approach

I work primarily from two therapeutic approaches, including attachment-based theory and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I use attachment theory to better understand you, including your childhood, family relations, and support. I utilize many interventions from CBT to help actually create change. I also have experience working from a trauma-focused perspective, and I will use different techniques as needed from this theory.

My focus

I believe an ideal client is a person willing to attempt some work, including mental, emotional, and physical changes. I additionally want to encourage my clients to advocate for themselves, especially with me in our sessions. I feel strongly that I can help people work through any concerns that arise; however, in order to do so, I hope for direct communication from my clients.

My communication style

In regards to my communication style, I work to always present as friendly and receptive. I want my clients to feel encouraged, invited to therapy, and never judged. I am direct in my communication, as well as overt, in order to clarify or identify any necessary dynamics happening. I do love joking around as well, and I have quite a sense of sarcasm!

My journey to mental healthcare

I have always enjoyed helping others feel better. As I have gotten older, I have started to recognize that everyone deserves to feel confident and complete no matter what they have to deal with. I want to be a part of that and help those around me be their best self. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. I have almost 8 years of practicing with clients.

My goals for you

My therapeutic goal for all my clients is to reach what they need to feel confident and happy in their life. I want clients to work towards the goals they identify, and I believe everyone deserves to feel the best they can be.

My first session with you

Usually, in my first sessions, we will have a lot of conversations about your history, treatment needs, and therapeutic goals. I am very good at asking questions and can either take the lead in this first session or allow you to direct the session with your preferred communication topics. Our first session feels very important to me, as I want to start building a strong relationship with all my clients.