Lorraine McDonnell

I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor and CBT Therapist offering a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can feel safe to talk openly about the difficulties you may be facing.

I have experience working with adults in private practice, bereavement services and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) settings. Through my EAP work, I provide confidential, focused and time-limited counselling to people experiencing a wide range of personal, emotional and work-related difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, relationship difficulties, workplace pressures, trauma and significant life changes.

If you are accessing counselling through an EAP, I understand that you may have a limited number of sessions available. I therefore work collaboratively with you to identify what feels most important, establish achievable goals and make the most of the time available. My aim is to help you gain greater understanding of what you are experiencing, develop practical coping strategies and identify meaningful steps towards positive change.

Life can feel overwhelming when your mind is constantly overthinking, worrying, or expecting the worst. You may feel emotionally exhausted, stuck in self-doubt, isolated, or struggling to cope with anxiety, low mood, grief, trauma or significant life changes. You may also find that past experiences continue to affect your relationships, confidence, emotional wellbeing or ability to manage everyday challenges. I understand how difficult this can feel, and I believe therapy can provide an opportunity to gain clarity, understanding and a greater sense of control.

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed and tailored to your individual needs. I integrate Person-Centred Counselling with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), drawing on my Certificate in CBT for Trauma to support clients who have experienced trauma and its lasting effects. I also incorporate elements of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), where appropriate.

Using CBT, we can explore how your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical responses are interconnected, and how these patterns may be affecting your wellbeing. Through ACT, we can explore ways of responding differently to difficult thoughts and emotions while reconnecting with your values and what matters most to you. Drawing on Compassion-Focused Therapy, we can work towards developing self-compassion, reducing self-criticism and building emotional resilience. Where appropriate, I also use solution-focused techniques to identify your strengths, existing resources and realistic goals for change.

My experience of EAP counselling has particularly strengthened my ability to work effectively within brief and structured interventions. I understand the importance of establishing a therapeutic relationship quickly, focusing on the issues that matter most to you and developing practical strategies that can continue to support you beyond the counselling sessions. At the same time, I recognise that everyone is different, and I will always work at a pace and in a way that respects your individual circumstances and needs.

My work is also informed by additional professional training in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), attachment theory, trauma and perinatal loss. Together, we can explore how early experiences and attachment patterns may influence your emotional wellbeing, relationships, self-esteem and coping strategies.

I also recognise that loneliness, social isolation and disconnection can have a significant impact on emotional wellbeing. Whether these experiences stem from bereavement, relationship difficulties, life transitions, workplace pressures or other personal circumstances, therapy can provide a compassionate space to explore these feelings and develop a stronger sense of connection.

For clients whose faith or spirituality is an important part of their lives, I can also offer faith-based counselling where appropriate and requested. This allows your beliefs and values to be respectfully incorporated into the therapeutic process while maintaining professional boundaries and an evidence-informed approach.

I work with adults from diverse backgrounds and support clients experiencing:

Anxiety and excessive worry
Depression and low mood
Stress and emotional overwhelm
Workplace stress and work-related difficulties
Low self-esteem and confidence
Trauma and complex trauma
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Attachment and relationship difficulties
Loneliness and social isolation
Bereavement, grief and loss
Miscarriage, infertility and pregnancy loss
Infant loss, neonatal loss, stillbirth and baby loss
Life transitions and personal challenges
Faith and spirituality-related concerns
Emotional difficulties supported through EAP counselling

Alongside my core qualifications, I have undertaken specialist training in miscarriage, infertility, pregnancy loss, infant loss, neonatal loss, stillbirth, baby loss, trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), attachment and CBT for Trauma. This additional training enables me to provide compassionate and informed support to individuals navigating the complex emotional impact of loss, trauma and significant life experiences.

I offer counselling both online and by telephone, as well as face-to-face where available. I provide both short-term and longer-term counselling, depending on your circumstances and therapeutic needs. I also have experience working within structured EAP frameworks, where counselling may be limited to a defined number of sessions.

Above all, I aim to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, respected and empowered. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, coping with grief, processing trauma, experiencing workplace stress, navigating fertility or pregnancy loss, exploring the impact of childhood experiences, experiencing loneliness or feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns, therapy can provide a safe space to make sense of your experiences and recognise your strengths.

Together, we can work towards greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, healthier coping strategies and increased confidence in your ability to navigate life's challenges. My hope is that you leave therapy with practical tools and a greater understanding of yourself that can continue to support your wellbeing beyond our work together.

• Free initial telephone session
• I offer concession rates or sliding scale pricing
• Payment by Bank transfer

Our sessions can be tailored around specific issues or you may want to discuss more generic issues that may be troubling you to understand how you're feeling.

• 50-minute counselling sessions via online/phone
• Short-term or open-ended counselling session
• Days/Weekend availability/Flexible scheduling

Please reach out...

If you feel I can help, please contact me today via email or phone, and we can have a chat about what you want and need. Please don’t think you are on this journey alone.

*Please note - I always aim to respond back to you within 24 hours, except over the weekend/Bank Holidays. It may be advisable to check your spam/junk mail box.

• Hold Enhanced DBS
• ICO Registration