Eleanor Donald

People come to therapy for many different reasons. Some arrive with a clear sense of what they want to work on, while others come with a more general feeling of being overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to make sense of what they are experiencing. Both ways of arriving are welcome.

I work relationally and psychodynamically, paying attention not only to what is happening in the present, but also to how earlier relationships and experiences may be shaping feelings, patterns, and ways of being now. The therapeutic relationship itself is central to this work, as what emerges between us can offer insight into how you relate to others and to yourself. This often involves exploring experiences that sit outside conscious awareness, allowing understanding and change to develop over time.

I have particular experience working with neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD and autism. In my work, people are met as they are, with attention to their own ways of thinking, feeling, and relating, and with curiosity rather than assumption.

I also have particular experience supporting people through prenatal and postnatal distress, miscarriage, and loss. These experiences can be emotionally complex and deeply personal, often involving conflicting feelings, bodily experience, and isolation. Therapy can offer a space where these experiences are taken seriously and held with care.

Alongside these areas, people also come with anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, and periods of change or transition. What matters most is not a diagnosis or label, but how your experiences are affecting you and how they can be explored safely in therapy.

My practice offers a regular and reliable space for people who want time to think and talk in therapy. Sessions last fifty minutes and take place weekly. I work in an open ended way, as psychodynamic therapy often benefits from having time and continuity.

I offer counselling both in person in Basingstoke and online. Some people choose to work face to face, while others choose to work online, and both can offer a meaningful therapeutic experience. My in person space does not currently have step free access, which may be an important consideration.

Therapy takes place at the same time each week and involves a shared commitment over time. Therapy takes place at the same time each week and involves a shared commitment over time. This consistency forms part of the therapeutic frame and helps support depth, safety, and trust in the work. A limited number of concessionary spaces are available, which can be discussed if this is relevant for you.

If you are thinking about starting therapy, I offer a free fifteen-minute phone call. This is a chance to briefly talk about what has led you to seek therapy, ask any practical questions, and get a sense of how it feels to speak together. If it feels right, we can then arrange our first session.

A first therapy session offers space to begin thinking together about what you are bringing and what you might be hoping for from the work. We will talk about what feels most important for you to share, as well as some practical aspects of how therapy works. You are welcome to ask questions, and there is time to consider whether this way of working feels right for you.

People experience first sessions in different ways. Some feel a sense of relief, while others notice uncertainty or mixed feelings afterwards. All of these responses are part of the process. Therapy develops over time, and if we decide to continue, sessions take place weekly at the same time, allowing the work to unfold with consistency and care.