Isla Macdonald
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
When life is hard it can often help to talk to someone outside of the situation. I offer a safe space to slow down, pay attention and explore what is happening. Much of what causes difficulty for us now has its roots in early life and relationships, yet shifts happen in the present. Paying attention to what is happening now and working through things in a therapeutic relationship can enable us to uncover new easier ways of being in ourselves and the world.
I specialise in attachment and developmental trauma, sexual abuse, bereavement, existential and spiritual crisis, the inner relationship with ourselves, chronic and acute human difficulties and anxieties. Other issues I address include relationships, low self esteem, lack, post-traumatic stress, dissociative disorder, non sexual abuse, physical and mental health, spirituality, anger, stress, depression, work issues, climate related grief and anxiety.
I hold a steady, compassionate, sensitive space where you are welcome to bring your whole self, whichever parts of you are struggling and whatever you need to say. I work intuitively, trusting the wisdom of the body and being, aspects of soul that might initially be less conscious but often have a clear sense of what is wanted and not wanted. By working creatively, welcoming and exploring with words but also movement, gesture, pictures, images, dreams and inner child expression, we can use everything to help us untangle and integrate what is here.
Training, qualifications & experience
I qualified with Re-Vision, an established yet innovative centre for counselling and psychotherapy, in transpersonal, integrative, psychotherapeutic counselling. I am also trained in Focusing which is a gentle, profound and natural way of paying attention to oneself and others that is based upon compassion and direct experience.
These trainings enable me employ Behavioural, Relational, Psychodynamic, Systemic, Transpersonal, Mindfulness, Existential and creative approaches in the work. I keep up to date with the latest techniques with on going training and supervision.
My own journey began in my early 20s with an unravelling of my world view and coping strategies, uncovering what was not working in my life. A Jungian therapist helped me put myself back together, enabling me to gain new perspectives, integrate and grow aspects of myself. I have since explored and found many ways of working with my own inner world, including bodywork and Focusing, which now inform my approach to counselling. I was a Palliative care nurse in Bristol and South Africa for many years, taught Mindfulness for pain and stress, volunteered as a Hospital Chaplain to the dying at Southmead and as a Counsellor with Cruse bereavement care and at Kinergy sexual abuse charity, working one to one and holding group work.
My current explorations are into deeper 'parts work', touching the deeper foundations of character development, wounding and uncovering a less cluttered relationship with innate self.
Having trained in Wild therapy and begun to explore nature rituals I am now developing therapeutic retreats at Bala Brook on Dartmoor, combining therapy work, Focusing, rituals and nature.
I am now offering individual and group supervision in person or online.
I’m registered with the UKCP and a member of the British Focusing Association
I work with adults and small groups delivering long and short-term therapy face-to-face, taking appointments in St Werburghs.
Training
Diploma in Transpersonal Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Re-Vision (BACP and UKCP accredited)
Focusing Practitioner, British Focusing Association
Group Facilitation Training, Embodied Relational Therapy
Sandtray work
Mindfulness Training, Breathworks
Chaplaincy Training, Buddhist Healthcare Chaplaincy Trust
Diploma End of Life care, University West of England
Wild Therapy Training with Embodied Relational Therapy
Supervision with Soul training, Re-Vision October 2023
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Wild Therapy
Whole body processing
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £60.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My normal fee is £55 for a 1 hour session.
Limited number of concession rate places.
Pay it Forward, if you are able to pay £60, I can offer others in need a fee reduction
I work in person and only work online when necessary
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
I work Monday to Thursdays, mainly daytimes with a few evenings, these come up less often. Early morning can also be possible. Do ask as I can have flexibility.
Further information
Therapeutic Retreats at Bala Brook Dartmoor.
2022 Touching the beauty in Grief
2023 Embracing the Difficult; Healing through the Dark Emotions.
Any enquiries do get in touch islawhiz@hotmail.com or through website.
Further Training and experience:
- Sand tray
- Bereavement
- Sexual abuse
- Dissociative identity disorder
- Children/Dynamic Focusing
- Parts work, Treasure Maps Focusing
- Whole body Focusing
- counselling Supervision
- Dementia
- End of life and chronic illness
- Spiritual/Existential questioning
- Rituals and nature work
- Mindfulness and awareness practices
- Group work
- Non violent communication
- Wild Therapy
