Lorraine McDonnell, BACP

Lorraine McDonnell specialises in helping people who feel trapped by relentless thinking and overwhelming worry. She recognises how exhausting it can be to replay events, imagine worst-case outcomes, or carry the weight of others’ expectations, and she approaches this with empathy grounded in personal experience of anxiety. As an online practitioner trained in cognitive behavioural methods and person-centred care, she aims to support clients in breaking repetitive thought patterns and finding greater control over daily life.

Her practice is tailored to each person’s situation, combining Client-Centred Therapy’s focus on understanding the individual with the practical tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Lorraine works with adults from a range of backgrounds on issues such as grief, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, addiction, and life transitions. She creates a space where people can be heard, gain clarity, and build skills to manage emotional challenges.

With four years of experience and BACP accreditation - membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - Lorraine offers guided support aimed at fostering self-understanding, resilience, and gradual change. Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person’s needs, helping them move from feeling stuck to taking manageable steps forward.

Collaborative therapeutic approaches for online support

Client-Centred Therapy emphasises understanding each person’s experience without judgement and focuses on building a trusting therapeutic relationship - it helps when someone needs a compassionate space to explore feelings and make sense of difficult events. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a structured approach that looks at how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact; it offers practical strategies for reducing anxiety, improving mood, and breaking unhelpful thinking patterns. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on identifying strengths and realistic steps forward - it is useful for people who want short-term, goal-oriented work to manage specific issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and Lorraine works collaboratively to determine what fits best based on a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques from different models so the work reflects each individual’s priorities and pace.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging provide flexibility for people balancing work, family, or health concerns. These options increase accessibility and make it easier to maintain continuity of care, allowing registered professionals to support clients in a format that suits their life and schedule.