Lorraine McDonnell, BACP

Lorraine McDonnell is a counsellor with four years' experience who offers support for people feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and life changes. She holds BACP accreditation and works online with adults in the United Kingdom. Her approach aims to help people make small, practical shifts that reduce distress and restore a sense of control.

She draws on client-centred listening to build understanding and safety in sessions. This means the person sets the pace while the counsellor reflects what matters most to them. Cognitive behavioural techniques are used to identify unhelpful thinking and try new ways of responding.

Work typically focuses on immediate problems such as panic, sleeping difficulties, addiction concerns, relationship strain or coping after loss. Lorraine also supports people dealing with workplace pressure, compassion fatigue, career doubts, and challenges linked to ageing or chronic illness. Sessions aim to be straightforward and relevant to everyday life.

Therapy blends short-term tools with deeper reflection when useful. Solution-focused strategies help set clear goals and track progress. Psychodynamic ideas may be introduced to look at patterns that keep repeating and where they might come from.

Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging to fit different routines and needs. People can expect a calm, non-judgemental space to talk, practical steps between sessions, and collaborative planning to work toward realistic change.

How Lorraine’s approaches work online

Client-centred therapy puts the person’s experience at the heart of sessions. The counsellor listens without judgement and follows the person's lead so that concerns are explored at a comfortable pace; this approach helps people feel understood and decide what matters most to them.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. Online CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking, trying small behaviour changes, and practising coping skills for anxiety, low mood, sleep or addiction issues.

Solution-focused work aims for short-term progress by setting clear, realistic goals and noticing small changes. It is useful when someone wants practical steps and measurable improvements within a few sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Lorraine will discuss what feels most useful and adapt methods to fit a person’s goals, preferences and situation. This is a collaborative process and plans can change as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video is helpful for face-to-face conversation and deeper work, phone calls can fit a short break or need less bandwidth, and messaging is useful for check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around family, work and daily life.