Linda McDonald
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
About me and my therapy practice
Do you feel like you need to talk to someone?
Maybe you’ve been struggling with something difficult for a while, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better on its own. Or perhaps life has thrown you a curveball, leaving you feeling anxious, stuck, unhappy, overwhelmed or distressed, or just finding things tough to handle. When challenges arise, they can ripple out and affect many areas of life—our work, relationships, and even how we feel about ourselves.
I understand that reaching out for help can be hard—it takes courage, especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it. But you don’t have to go through this alone.
I will be there to listen and support you. Together, we can explore whatever is on your mind, working at a pace that feels comfortable for you and building trust so you will be able to talk about the stuff you find difficult, painful or shameful.
I offer a safe and confidential space where we can build trust, and you can feel truly heard. There’s no judgment here. I’ll listen and help you face the things you may have been avoiding or find especially challenging.
Together, we can work to understand difficult feelings, identify patterns in behaviour or thoughts that keep repeating, and explore ways to break free from them. The goal is to help you gain clarity, insight, and acquire the tools needed to create meaningful change—so you can live a more fulfilling life.
Individual Therapy
I can help you navigate major life decisions, struggles in relationships, and challenges with confidence and self-esteem. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, or feelings of sadness, I’m here to support you.
I also have experience working with neurodivergence and understand the added complexities it can bring to coping with everyday life. Together, we can work towards creating meaningful change and helping you regain a sense of balance and well-being.
Couple Therapy
If you’re struggling with your relationship—feeling isolated, resentful, or frustrated by communication problems, frequent arguments, or even a betrayal—couple therapy can help. Life’s challenges can strain relationships, but therapy offers an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of your feelings and improve your ability to communicate skillfully in your relationship.
Talking with a trained therapist creates a safe space where you can express yourself openly. Together, we can explore and manage difficult feelings, reflect on what each partner brings to the relationship, and move away from blame and criticism. The goal is to foster understanding, build constructive dialogue, and create stronger, healthier connections.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a fully qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist. This means I help clients explore how past experiences might be affecting them in the present, working together we can uncover the root causes of feelings and create meaningful change. Additionally, I am RELATE trained as a systemic relationship therapist, enabling me to support couples in navigating their relationships more effectively.
I work with adult couples and individuals, offering a safe and supportive environment to address a wide range of issues.
Experience and Memberships
I hold a degree in Psychology and have a background in research and business. My extensive experience includes years as a Samaritans Listener, where I supported individuals through many and varied challenging times.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) I have extensive experience working with managers/artists working in Media, TV/Film and the Music professions.
Currently, I volunteer as a staff counsellor for one of the UK’s longest-established counselling charities and work with RELATE. Previously I have worked with several charities dealing with Suicide prevention.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Individuals dealing with a relative with dementia
Therapies offered
Fees
£80.00 - £110.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
Getting Started: A Step-by-Step Process (Individuals and Couples)
Step 1 – Contact me by phone or email. I will respond by the end of the next working day at the latest.
Step 2 – I’ll give you a call for a brief discussion about your situation. This helps us determine whether I’m the best fit for your needs.
Step 3 – If appropriate, we’ll schedule an initial consultation (lasting up to 90 minutes). This session is an opportunity for me to learn more about you—or both of you if it’s a couple’s consultation—and for you to decide if you feel comfortable working with me. Trust and feeling safe are essential in a therapeutic relationship, and I will also assess whether therapy is the right approach for your specific circumstances.
Step 4 – If we agree that ongoing therapy would be beneficial, we’ll agree a regular weekly time for 50-minute sessions. This time slot will be reserved for you.
Initial consultation Fees:
£80 for individuals, £110 for couples.
I have a limited number of spaces available for those on low incomes. Please contact me to discuss your circumstances.
When I work
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Further information
What Can I help you with
Life stage Transitions:
- Becoming a parent/ Postnatal depression
- Pregnancy /infertility/Miscarriage/Terminations
- Managing menopause (self/work/relationship)
- Affairs and Betrayals
- Separation and Divorce
- Living with a partner when you are going through divorce proceedings
- Ending a relationship/ Contemplating or adapting to divorce
- Blending families/jealousy/over protectiveness/roles
- Family Issues/changes/returning adult children
- Coping with Empty Nest syndrome
- Redundancy
- Coping with retirement
- Serious or chronic Illness, Grief and Bereavement
Personal Issues:
- Low self-esteem/low confidence/self-doubt
- Anxiety/Depression/Feeling sad/Loneliness
- Poor communication skills
- Dealing with Loss or uncertainty
- Managing stress/workplace bullying/Passive
- Aggressive behaviour
- Fear/Isolation
- Trauma in childhood or the present
- Anger/Frustration
- Identity issues
- Self-Harm/Suicidal ideation/Hopelessness
- Social Anxiety
- Feeling different
I have expertise working with professionals
- Creative industries: Music, Performing/Acting, TV & Film
- Self Employed/ business owners of Small Medium Enterprises (Isolation/stress/work-life balance)
- Service sector: Advertising, Marketing, Market Research
- Medical Professionals – who want help but find it hard to reach out for it - what is said in therapy stays in therapy!
