About Donna
About Donna-Lee Zmenak, MSc., Reg. CASLPO
I have worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for more than three decades, after earning my Master’s degree on an academic scholarship from Bowling Green State University in 1988. Over the years, I have supported children, adolescents, and adults living with communication challenges related to acquired brain injury, concussion, autism spectrum disorder, fluency, motor speech, and developmental language delays.
My own journey through illness and recovery, shared in Dr. Gabor Maté’s The Myth of Normal (Chapter 27), and as a mother to 5 grown children my life experience has deepened my compassion for the challenges many clients face. This lived education has shaped my practice into one that values not only therapy, but also presence, empathy, and resilience.
Over time, I expanded my practice to include complementary and integrative therapy adjuncts such as hypnosis, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), behavioural strategies, emotional freedom technique (EFT), breath work, meditation, and yoga. These approaches are poly vagal-informed and designed to foster nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and empowered communication.
Today, I work a dual path integrating regulated Speech-Language Pathology with stand-alone, non-regulated coaching and hypnosis programs. This dual path allows me to serve both clinical rehabilitation needs and those seeking personal transformation and resilience training.
About My Therapy Style As a mother of five children spanning three decades, my family and life experiences have been some of my greatest teachers. They have shaped the way I understand growth, resilience, and the uniqueness of every individual journey. This perspective brings a depth of compassion and understanding to my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
My goal in every session is to create an atmosphere of encouragement and joy, where patients feel supported in becoming more of who they are. Through the portal of communication competence, whether in recovery, rehabilitation, or development, I aim to help each person build confidence connection and communication skills in ways that are meaningful to them.
