Deborah Mcdonnell - Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor 

Counselling is about relationships with those around us and the relationship we have with ourselves. I create an environment where you can access and harness your own resources/strengths in a non-judgemental space to work towards your individual therapeutic goals. I will work alongside you and I am keen to understand your personal values whilst working with difficulties such as stuck patterns and developing an understanding of what is maintaining them. Therapy can encompass all as aspects of life, with the therapeutic relationship being a central part of healing.  

My approach

My approach is LGBTQIA+ affirmative. I am a relational humanistic therapist drawing from elements of the Person-Centred approach and uses different modalities, for example, Trauma Informed (grounding), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (changing response to emotions), Felt Sense (bodily awareness of sensations and emotions), Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (creating safety) and Transactional Analysis (roles played in relationships).     This means in your therapy, I provide a place to explore your individual life situations and difficulties as well as exploring what life means to you. I work collaboratively within the realm of your experience to provide a space to unravel areas that are causing pain and discomfort. I offer Short –term (up to 6months) and long-term (6+ months) therapy which is negotiated with you.

You may find yourself stuck in patterns of denial, escapism, or obsessive thinking as a response to your emotions.  This can lead you to experience psychological distress such as, anxiety, depression, stress or tension. Despite longing to change, people can remain in these distressing and confusing states for significant periods of time. Learning to interpret and be more in touch with our felt sense (emotions and feelings) and understand the root causes can offer you insight into finding ways to understand your own needs and process how these can  influence your life choices.

Previous Experience and work patterns

I have worked in private practice for the past 5 years working with many areas, including anxiety, bereavement, CPTSD, depression, relationship difficulties, abuse, loneliness, low self-esteem and gender identity. Alongside this, I am counsellor to students in both Further and Higher Education.  Prior to training as a psychotherapist, I was a lecturer for 15 years teaching Sport and Social Psychology to young people and adults.  In both roles I have developed and delivered psycho-educative workshops covering topics such as ‘Coping with Change’, ‘Self-worth’, ‘Reducing Anxiety’ and ‘Improving relationship’.