Donelle Anderson, MFT

If you are involved in a family law case in El Dorado County with a spouse or ex that has the finances for Ms. Donelle, yet you do not, *BEWARE*.
Ms. Donelle will have no interest in ensuring your child will have a balanced environment where Father and Mother each have the responsibility of bringing the children to appointments. Whoever pays, brings your child. Whoever pays, gets email and phone responses. If you don’t have the $ 100 per hour, too bad. Also, do not expect to be informed of appointments, or summaries of your child’s visits. If you do not pay, you do not exist. Except when it comes to sessions with your ex, your child and Ms. Donelle, where you will be freely discussed.
Ms. Donelle does not take insurance, so if your ex wants to keep you from sessions with your child, that is exactly what will happen. You will have no part in your child’s sessions. Your ex, or spouse can sit in and will be able to discuss you and your case’s issues with your child behind the veil of ‘it’s ok, because it’s therapy’.
Ms. Donelle will also encourage your child not to discuss with you those same things your ex was allowed to discuss with your child and Ms. Donelle in their therapy session.
Do not expect the courts in El Dorado County to ensure your child has a balanced therapy experience with both Father and Mother sharing in the responsibilities. They are understandably far too busy with their own housekeeping.
Ms. Donelle maintains a colorful, comfortable environment for her clients, although very often is pre-​occupied with snacking or doing her makeup during therapy sessions.
If you have the money and are looking to gain the edge in a custody case against your co-​parent who does not, rest assured Ms. Donelle will provide the perfect environment.
Clark, Georgetown CA

Absolutely horrible. She will play everyone in a family against each other so she can get more appointments and money. She should be ashamed of herself for what she does.

Terrible!!! Donelle is a complete waste of time and money. All she does is let the parents argue and then cusses at them or reprimands them for what she thinks are wrong doings. She is full of herself, a fraud, and COMPLETELY unprofessional. She doesn’t provide any help or give any tools to parents to help with co-​parenting, communication, etc. Do not let the courts, your attorney, or any else trick you into using her. She shouldn’t even have a license!

Donelle Anderson «grand master» as I’ve come to refer her as, is a unique therapist in her own. I’ve known her almost three years. There is no middle ground with her, hence why the courts trust her judgement. She has been selected as the unofficial truth detector for El Dorado County. At first you will be intimidated and probably angry, but with time grow to understand her blunt directives are part of a system where you are in control of helping yourself with her as a guide, which is actually better in the long run. Unfortunately she is so busy with family law cases she probably doesn’t work much out of that scope, but if you are truthful with her and yourself you might get the pleasure of working with her on more personal topics. I’ve had the pleasure and can assure you Mrs Anderson is extremely educated and aware of the mental AND PHYSICAL angles of thought and emotion process and habit. This kind of knowledge doesn’t retain by force but by desire, proving to me although her methods of therapy can seem harsh at times, she enjoys helping other people. My only complaint is she is so busy sorting out everyone’s problem at times she can seem de-​personalized, then I remember if I was trying to save 20 families a day about to be ripped apart forever by malicious lies, I might not want to chat about the family pet either. Hope this helps others in understanding, she is worth her weight in gold and my family thanks her!

Donelle has truly transformed my family situation. First impression was this lady is tough! From day one I was extremely apprehensive to her «no nonsense» tactics. Thank God I let go of my fears and put my faith and trust in her. My children are happy and their father and I are on our way to building a positive relationship. I never imagined that we could actually be successful at co-​parenting. I will be referring all of my friends! Thank you Donelle!

Hiring this supervised visitation provider will be one of the worst mistakes of your life! Men, she will take your money ($ 130.00 for 2 hours) and sit on the phone/​computer while occasionally correcting you on how to play with your children. She will then write a report chock full of lies to the court regarding your visitations, painting you in a bad light before the court. She is duplicitous and not very bright. You are at your own peril hiring this woman.