A Message from Yvette
Hello and thank you for taking the time to visit and explore Nourivida Wellness.
I’m Yvette E. McDonald a psychotherapist, Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist (CMNCS), Qualified Supervisor, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Candidate (Graduating Feb 2026).
As a neurodivergent clinician with both autism and ADHD, I understand firsthand the unique challenges and strengths that come with seeing and experiencing the world differently. My goal is to help you, your child, or your relationship embrace the gifts of neurodiversity while reducing the overwhelm and pressure that often accompany it. Together, we’ll build emotional strength, self-awareness, and resilience honoring both the mind and body’s needs through a holistic, evidence-based lens.
My Philosophy
Healing, to me, means creating harmony between your thoughts, emotions, and physiology. When we slow down enough to listen to what the body and mind are trying to communicate, transformation begins.
I believe therapy should be authentic, educational, and collaborative. It’s about understanding why you feel the way you do not just managing symptoms. By integrating psychology, neuroscience, and nutrition, I help clients move from survival to self-awareness and from reactivity to regulation.
You don’t have to be perfect to change, you simply have to begin.
My Approach
Clients describe me as both grounded and direct, someone who listens deeply, asks hard questions with compassion, and brings equal parts warmth and insight to every session.
I value clinical depth over volume, focusing on providing a concierge-level experience where clients feel seen, supported, and guided with intention.
I take pride in creating a space that’s safe, transparent, and down-to-earth where you can unpack what’s been weighing you down and begin rebuilding from the inside out. Together, we’ll make sense of your story, explore what no longer serves you, and learn to anchor your nervous system through practical tools, mindful nutrition, and emotional regulation.
Areas of Focus
My work blends both traditional psychotherapy and integrative wellness principles.
Areas of specialization include:
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Neurodivergence & High Sensitivity: Autism, ADHD, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and emotional intensity
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Emotional Regulation & Trauma Recovery: Anxiety, depression, PTSD & CPTSD, chronic stress, attachment wounds, chronic emotion dysregulation, and high conflict relational patterns
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Couples & Family Work: Gottman-informed relationship repair, affairs, addiction, blended families, divorce, discernment counseling, Brining Home Baby
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Hormone & Mood Support: Perimenopause, PMDD, adrenal fatigue, and nervous system dysregulation
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Emotional Eating & Mind-Body Nutrition: Understanding how food, blood sugar, and stress patterns affect emotional health.
Integrative Mental Health & Nutrition
I’ve always believed that mental and physical health are inseparable. As part of my ongoing commitment to whole-person wellness, I pursued certification as a Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist (CMNCS) and am currently completing my Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) training.
At Nourivida Wellness, this integrative framework allows me to support clients in understanding how nutrition, hormones, sleep, stress, digestion, and blood sugar influence mood, focus, and resilience. My goal is to empower you with education and sustainable tools that align with your biology so you can live with greater energy, clarity, and emotional balance.
“It takes a lot more courage to let something go than it does to hang on to it, trying to make it better. Letting go doesn’t mean ignoring a situation. Letting go means accepting what is, exactly as it is, without fear, resistance, or a struggle for control.”
— Iyanla Vanzant
Defining Success Together
Success in our work isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress, connection, and self-awareness.
For individuals, success often looks like navigating emotions with confidence and calm. For couples, it’s the moment they say, “We’re friends again. We laugh, we recover faster, and we feel like a team.” Clients often describe leaving sessions feeling lighter, more grounded, and equipped with practical insight they can apply to daily life.
The people who find the most success with me are ready to engage fully in the process. They want a therapist who matches their motivation for growth, challenges them gently, and provides perspective that empowers lasting change.
Professional Background
I’ve been doing this work for two decades and it still feels deeply meaningful every day.
I began my journey at Florida Atlantic University, earning a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a master’s in Social Work.
My clinical training includes:
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Levels 1, 2, and 3 Gottman Method Couples Therapy
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Advanced training in affairs, trauma, and couples in addiction recovery
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Certification in Discernment Counseling for couples in crisis
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EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) integration for relational repair
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — with specialized application for couples and relationship repair
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work for deep emotional healing and integration
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Qualified Supervisor for emerging clinicians and mental health professionals
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Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist (CMNCS)
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Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) Candidate, graduating February 2026
And because I believe growth never ends I’m still learning, researching, and developing tools that blend emotional health with functional wellness. I’m passionate about bridging evidence-based therapy with functional wellness helping clients understand and align the emotional, physiological, and relational layers of their healing.
Beyond the Office
I’m entertainingly married and part of a blended neurodiverse family with two teenage sons and a teenage stepdaughter. Family life keeps me grounded, inspired, and constantly learning about communication, balance, and grace.
Outside of my clinical work, I wear many hats: Homeschooling Educator, Adjunct Professor, Workshop Leader, Qualified Supervisor, and partner in my husband's businesses. I love the variety of it all and the opportunity to help people learn, grow, and experience life in meaningful ways.
When I’m not working, you’ll often find me traveling, exploring new places, or relaxing at the beach with my service animal and therapy dog, Bella. I’m an unapologetic creative with ADHD, which means I’m usually making something, painting, crocheting, designing, or dreaming up my next project. I live by the motto “work hard, play hard,” and I strive to bring that same energy of curiosity and joy into every part of my life.
My dream for Nourivida Wellness is to continue expanding into a comprehensive well-being center, a space where individuals and families can access a full spectrum of services to help them become the healthiest, most authentic version of themselves.
You'll find a mix of couch thoughts, parent coaching, divorce and couples tips, ideas and strategies.