J. MacDonald

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MBACP, COSCA, GTCS
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB25 1HF

About me

I’m a Person-Centred Therapist working with Adults, Children and Young People. I believe deeply that healing begins in relationship, in feeling safe enough to be seen, heard and met as you are.

At the heart of my work is the belief that you are the expert on your own life. I don’t come with a fixed agenda or a set of answers. Instead, I offer a calm, compassionate, non-judgmental space where we can explore whatever you’re carrying, at your own pace. Together, we work towards understanding, connection and the changes that matter most to you.

People often come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck or unsure where to begin. You don’t need to have the right words here. We start wherever you are.

Who I Work With

I work with adults, children and young people who are trying to make sense of themselves, their relationships and what life is asking of them. People often come to me when they’re feeling lost in themselves, struggling in relationships or overwhelmed by how they’re feeling.

I have experience working with both adults and young people across education and crisis support settings.

Much of my work centres around questions of identity: the “Who am I?” moments that can arise during life transitions, changes in relationships, burnout, neurodivergence or periods of low mood. You might feel lost, disconnected from yourself or unsure how you fit into the world around you. Therapy can offer space to explore these questions gently, without pressure to have answers.

I also support people experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and emotional overwhelm. I have experience working with intense and complex distress, and I prioritise safety, emotional containment and moving at a pace that feels manageable for you. You don’t need to minimise how bad things feel, or have it all figured out before coming to therapy.

Relationships are another common focus of my work, whether that’s difficulties with friends, partners, family members or long-standing patterns such as people-pleasing and putting others first. Together, we can explore how these patterns developed and what you might need now.

Alongside this, I work with a wide range of experiences including anxiety, stress, burnout, grief and loss, the emotional impact of caring for others and neurodivergent experiences, including autism and ADHD. You don’t need to fit neatly into a category to be welcome here.

Working With Children & Young People (For Parents)

I also work with children and young people, offering a calm, person-centred space where emotional safety and trust come first. Supporting a child can feel worrying, especially when emotions run high, behaviour changes or school becomes difficult. Therapy is not about fixing behaviour or pushing a child to talk before they are ready. It’s about helping them make sense of their inner world in ways that feel safe and manageable.

Alongside my work as a therapist, I am a primary school teacher and have extensive experience supporting children with a wide range of emotional, developmental and neurodivergent needs, including autism and ADHD. This background helps me understand how distress can show up differently in children, across home and school and how important pacing, regulation and relationship are.

For some children, talking feels natural. For others, it doesn’t. Where helpful, I offer creative and play-based approaches, including Sand Tray Therapy, to support expression when words are hard to find. These approaches are always led by the child and used only when they feel appropriate.

I work collaboratively with parents and carers, offering space to reflect and better understand what a child may be experiencing, while keeping the child’s therapeutic space confidential and protected.

Whether your child is feeling anxious, withdrawn, overwhelmed, struggling with relationships or school, or finding it hard to regulate emotions, counselling can offer them a supportive place to feel understood.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Person-Centred Counselling PGDip - University of Aberdeen
  • Primary School Education PGDE - University of Aberdeen
  • Sand Tray Practitioner - Reach
  • ASIST Certified Suicide Caregiver - LivingWorks
  • D&D Therapy Practitioner & Researcher - University of Aberdeen

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£60.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

Pricing for sessions is £60 per 50 minute in-person or online session. I offer a limited number of concession slots for those who require it. To find out more, please reach out.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

H Q, 1 Berry Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB25 1HF

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Children (0-12)
Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

PVG Scheme

In Scotland, criminal records checks are carried out by Disclosure Scotland. Professionals working with children or vulnerable adults must join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. You can learn more at mygov.scot , or contact this professional directly.

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

We have an elevator to help get us to our room on the second floor.

Online platforms

Google Meet
J. MacDonald
J. MacDonald