About me
Hi, I'm Angela McDonnell.
I'm a reassuringly relaxed counsellor with over 15 years' experience.
I work in a down-to-earth way, taking the work seriously without making it feel heavy or intimidating.
What You Can Expect
I'm interested in understanding your perspective and experiences - how you tick, how you think, how you feel, and how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, your relationships and the world around you.
I'll listen carefully and ask thoughtful questions, and together we'll make sense of your experience, notice patterns that may no longer be serving you and explore new ways of understanding yourself and your life. Along the way, I may gently challenge you when it feels helpful, or introduce ideas, exercises, or creative processes that can support your journey.
There is no pressure to have the right words or arrive with everything figured out.
Who I Work With
Clients often come to me when their life or relationships feel heavy or unsatisfying. From the outside, life might look fine - but inside, it feels like a different story.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, stressed, disconnected from yourself, or quietly carrying more than anyone realises. Perhaps you're navigating a big life change, finding a significant relationship or friendships difficult, carrying the impact of past experiences, or simply aware that life isn't feeling the way you hoped it would.
Often, there's a sense that something needs to change, even if you're not quite sure what that is yet.
In summary, my client's are often:
• Navigating a significant life change or transition
• Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected
• Carrying the impact of past experiences or trauma
• Struggling with stress, anxiety, low mood, or burnout
• Questioning direction, relationships, or sense of purpose
If some of this feels familiar, therapy can offer a space to pause, make sense of what's going on, and begin to feel more like yourself again.
Working in Different Ways
Conversation in counselling is an important and necessary part of the process. Taking time to tell your story, to find the right words that 'fit', to feel heard, and to make sense of your experiences can be deeply healing. At times, though, we may find that your body, felt-sense, emotions, or creativity can express something that words alone can't.
When it feels helpful, we might include different ways of working. We might sketch things out on paper, map patterns, write a letter you'll never send, pause to notice what's happening in your body, or use simple grounding, visualisation, or mindfulness exercises. These approaches can help us explore thoughts, emotions, memories, and patterns in a way that feels more connected and integrated, especially when something is difficult to explain or make sense of.
There's no right or wrong way to do any of this. You don't need to be creative or mindful. I'll gently guide the process, and together we'll discover what feels most helpful for you.
And if what you need is simply a safe space to sit, talk, and be heard, that's enough too.
Session Options
• In-person counselling in Chorlton, M21
• Online counselling anywhere in the UK
• Outdoor nature based therapy in different locations
Taking the Next Step
I offer a free 30-minute introductory chat, either online via Zoom or in my spacious, welcoming therapy room in Chorlton. If you choose to meet in person, I'll have a herbal tea waiting for you.
There's no pressure or obligation, just the opportunity to see whether it feels like a good fit.
Ways to Reach Out to Me
At the top of this page you'll find options to book an introductory call, send me an email, or visit my website. You're very welcome to use whichever feels easiest.
I'd love to hear from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
My practice today reflects over 15 years of continued learning, reflection, and experience working with a wide range of clients.
My professional development has been guided by an interest in trauma, relationships, the nervous system, embodiment, creativity, faith and spirituality and human change.
Specialist Training & Ongoing Development
• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Polyvagal Theory
• Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)
• Parts Work (IFS informed)
• Focusing and Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy
• Expressive Arts
• Non-Verbal Behaviour Therapy Index (NVBTI)
• Solution Focused Therapy and Positive Psychology
• Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
• Eco Therapy and Wilderness Therapy
• Therapeutic Depth Coaching
Core Qualifications
• Qualified Integrative Counsellor
• Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Counselling
• Diploma in Creative Expressive Therapies – Arts Specialism
Coaching Qualifications
• Certificate in Coaching Skills (ICF Accredited)
• Certificate in Consciousness Coaching (ICF Accredited)
• Certificate in Somatic and Trauma-Informed Coaching (ICF Accredited)
Professional Memberships
• Accredited Registered Member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
• Professional Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)
Increasingly, many of my clients are fellow counsellors, psychotherapists, and other helping professionals.
I attend monthly clinical supervision in accordance with the requirements of the NCPS, undertake regular continuing professional development, and hold full professional insurance.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Upcoming events
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Session Pricing
Sessions are £60 per session
A reduced daytime rate may be available for regular online bookings on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays before 4.00pm.
When I work
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