Cheryl Macdonald

I am an integrative psychotherapist specialising in therapy for women, with a particular focus on relationships, self-worth, anxiety, adult ADHD, perimenopause, divorce recovery, narcissistic abuse and major life transitions.

My work is grounded in the belief that women’s distress often makes sense when understood in the context of their relationships, histories, bodies, responsibilities and the roles they have been expected to hold. Many of the women I work with appear highly capable on the outside, but privately feel exhausted, anxious, disconnected from themselves, or unsure how to stop repeating painful patterns.

I offer a warm, thoughtful and collaborative space where you can speak honestly, without needing to minimise, perform or explain yourself away. My approach is integrative, drawing on psychodynamic, relational, feminist, somatic and trauma-informed psychotherapy. This means we may explore your past, your current relationships, your nervous system, your emotional patterns, your body’s responses, and the deeper beliefs you carry about yourself.

I have over 20 years’ experience supporting women through different life stages, originally through women’s yoga, embodiment and wellbeing, and now through psychotherapy. This background strongly informs my work. I am particularly interested in how the body holds emotional experience, how women lose touch with themselves through years of adaptation, and how therapy can support a return to self-trust, clarity and agency.

Therapy with me is not about giving you generic advice or telling you who to be. It is about helping you understand yourself more deeply, recognise the patterns that are no longer serving you, and begin to make choices from a more grounded and self-respecting place.

I work with adult women who are navigating emotional, relational or life-stage difficulties. This may include anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, separation or divorce, narcissistic or emotionally harmful relationships, family difficulties, adult ADHD, perimenopause, identity shifts, grief, burnout or feeling lost after years of being the person everyone else relied on.

Clients often come to me when they know something needs to change, but they are not yet sure what that change looks like. You may feel stuck in old patterns, drawn to unavailable or critical people, overwhelmed by guilt, struggling to set boundaries, or questioning who you are outside of being a partner, mother, daughter or professional.

My practice is integrative and relational. I do not believe one model fits every woman, so I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches depending on your needs. These may include psychodynamic therapy, person-centred therapy, feminist therapy, trauma-informed practice, somatic awareness, psychoeducation and reflective exploration of relationship patterns.

Sessions are usually spacious, honest and gently challenging. I will not simply sit silently, but I also will not rush to fix you. We will work together to understand what is happening beneath the surface, including the emotional logic of your patterns, the protective strategies you have developed, and the parts of you that may have been silenced or pushed aside.

I offer therapy online and, where available, in person. I work with clients in a steady weekly or fortnightly rhythm, and I also offer focused intensive sessions for women who want to explore a specific issue in greater depth.

The aim of our work is not perfection. It is greater self-understanding, emotional freedom, healthier relationships, clearer boundaries, and a stronger connection to the woman you are becoming.

The first session is an opportunity for us to get a clear sense of what has brought you to therapy and whether working together feels like the right fit.

You do not need to arrive with everything perfectly organised or know exactly what you want to say. Many clients begin with a feeling, a situation, a relationship difficulty, a recent crisis, or a sense that they cannot keep carrying things in the same way. We will start from where you are.

In the first session, I will usually ask about what is currently troubling you, what you would like support with, and any relevant background, including relationships, family history, work, health, life stage, previous therapy and current coping strategies. We may also talk about what you hope will feel different as therapy progresses.

This session is also a chance for you to ask questions about how I work. I will explain confidentiality, boundaries, session frequency, fees, cancellation terms and any practical details. If appropriate, we may identify some initial therapeutic goals, although these can change as the work deepens.

I do not expect you to disclose everything immediately. Therapy develops through trust, and the first session is about beginning that process at a pace that feels manageable. Some women leave the first session with a clearer sense of the main themes they want to explore; others simply feel relief at finally being able to say things out loud.

My first session is charged at my standard therapy rate unless otherwise agreed in advance. After this session, we can decide together whether ongoing weekly, fortnightly or focused intensive work would be most suitable.