Sinead McDonnell


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
As an experienced counsellor, I am here to help if you are feeling sad or overwhelmed, struggling with relationships, anxiety , depression, phobias, or another situation in your life which is causing you stress or unhappiness.
I will support you if you have experienced a painful loss through bereavement, separation, divorce, relationship breakdown, redundancy, betrayal or family issues.
Or perhaps you suffer from low self esteem, emotional abuse, or lack in self confidence, or struggle with relationship issues.
I understand and appreciate how daunting it can be to seek counselling when you are experiencing pain or feeling fragile, vulnerable and anxious. I can help you to work through your anxieties.
I believe I can help you to find hope, heal your hurt and bring peace to your life.
Counselling provides you with an opportunity to release your burden.
Through an empathic counselling experience in a safe, confidential space, I can offer you the support and opportunity you need to identify, explore and reflect on the issues that cause you pain and distress.
This can be an empowering experience which increases your insight, self-awareness & self-understanding, making you feel stronger and better able to identify, prioritise and cope with your life and what is truly important for you.
I am a fully trained professional counsellor and a member of BACP (British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists)
My work is underpinned by their code of ethics which requires me to work in a non- judgemental way, to the best of my ability, keeping the interests and well being of my client paramount at all times.
I specialise in Grief,Bereavement & Loss & have undertaken training with Cruse Bereavement Care for both adults & Children.
I am an experienced integrative practitioner which means your therapy will be tailormade to suit your individual needs by using techniques from a number of therapeutic approaches including Humanistic, Person Centred , Cognitive Behavioural and Psychodynamic therapies.
I am situated in County Antrim and available to see clients in Ballymena, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Cushendall, Larne, Antrim & Coleraine.
My own life experiences brought me to seek help through counselling so I appreciate what a big step this might be for you. We all experience many forms of grief and loss throughout our lives.
I am committed and passionate about helping you find a positive way to heal your hurt.
Training, qualifications & experience
University of Ulster Foundation Degree in Counselling (Commendation)
Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
BACP Certificate of Proficiency
Certificate of Counselling
Children & Bereavement Jan2017
Understanding Self Harm Oct 2015
Cruse Bereavement Counsellor Training Jan-Apr 2015
Cruse Supervision Training 2017
Nexus Sexual Abuse Annual Conference 12 Nov 2014
Suicide Awareness & Prevention
Wave Level 4 Psychological Trauma Oct 2016
Ascentis Awareness in Bereavement Care: The Foundation Course Sep 2015
Safeguarding : Child Protection & Vulnerable Adults Oct 2015
Working with children
Cancer Awareness with Macmillan 10 Nov 2015
Wellness Recovery Action Programme (WRAP) 01 & DEC 2015
Cruse Sudden & Traumatic Death 20 Feb 2016
Telephone counselling training Sept 2016
Bereavement Workshop Training Nov 2012
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
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£45 per hour.
Student discounts.
Concessions for Trainee Counsellors.
Discretionary reductions negotiable for clients on low income.
When I work
I offer a private, confidential & flexible counselling service and can arrange evening, weekend or Bank Holiday appointments to meet your individual requirements. Please call or email me.
Further information
Why counselling ?
Individual clients experience many positive outcomes and benefits from counselling. Almost all of them report the immense sense of relief they get just from sharing their burden with a responsible, trustworthy, professional caring counsellor & being listened to.
Other benefits include: empowerment to bring about healthier changes
Improved confidence & increased self esteem.
Recovery from painful experiences.
Healing past trauma.
Improved relationships
Better ways of coping with stress
More control of their life
Finding purpose & fulfillment in life
Increased self awareness
Inner peace through self acceptance
Increased sense of well being