Nichola McDonald, BACP
Humanistic therapist supporting women professionals
- Supports stress and burnout
- Trauma and grief care
- Somatic and compassion focused
About Nichola McDonald
Nichola McDonald is a humanistic therapist based in the North of Ireland, United Kingdom, who creates a supportive space for people to explore their thoughts, feelings, and potential. She focuses on fostering personal growth across mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions while working in a compassionate, client-centered way.
Nichola specializes in supporting women in demanding careers and those with significant responsibilities such as parenthood or caregiving. She works with people experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, career challenges, life changes, addictions, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting stress, anger, bipolar and depressive difficulties, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Her practice also addresses related areas such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment issues, body image, chronic illness and pain, codependency, communication and commitment concerns, and blended family dynamics.
Her approach integrates somatic counseling with techniques including EFT (intentional tapping), mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, breathwork, HeartMath, and NLP, and she draws on therapeutic models such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Nichola emphasizes a trusting, nonjudgmental connection so clients feel heard, validated, and respected. She collaborates with each person to develop a tailored plan aimed at symptom relief, improved functioning, insight, or greater fulfilment.
Nichola holds BACP, a professional counselling credential that denotes affiliation with a UK counselling association and a commitment to recognised practice standards. She works exclusively with women experiencing stress, trauma, fatigue, or burnout, a focus informed by her own personal experience. As she manages a private practice, schedules can be limited and time slots may not always appear on this page; prospective clients are invited to share preferred times to enquire about availability. For more information, visit https://consciousconnectionscounselling.com/
Nichola specializes in supporting women in demanding careers and those with significant responsibilities such as parenthood or caregiving. She works with people experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, career challenges, life changes, addictions, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting stress, anger, bipolar and depressive difficulties, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Her practice also addresses related areas such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment issues, body image, chronic illness and pain, codependency, communication and commitment concerns, and blended family dynamics.
Her approach integrates somatic counseling with techniques including EFT (intentional tapping), mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, breathwork, HeartMath, and NLP, and she draws on therapeutic models such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Nichola emphasizes a trusting, nonjudgmental connection so clients feel heard, validated, and respected. She collaborates with each person to develop a tailored plan aimed at symptom relief, improved functioning, insight, or greater fulfilment.
Nichola holds BACP, a professional counselling credential that denotes affiliation with a UK counselling association and a commitment to recognised practice standards. She works exclusively with women experiencing stress, trauma, fatigue, or burnout, a focus informed by her own personal experience. As she manages a private practice, schedules can be limited and time slots may not always appear on this page; prospective clients are invited to share preferred times to enquire about availability. For more information, visit https://consciousconnectionscounselling.com/
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Existential Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Solution-Focused Therapy Somatic Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Nichola McDonald have?
Nichola McDonald has 4 years of clinical experience.
Is Nichola McDonald a registered therapist?
Yes. She holds BACP. BACP is a professional counselling credential that indicates affiliation with a UK counselling association and a commitment to recognised practice standards.
In which languages does Nichola McDonald provide therapy?
Nichola provides therapy in English.
Where is Nichola McDonald located?
She is based in the United Kingdom.
How can I work with Nichola McDonald as my therapist?
You can work with Nichola McDonald through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Nichola McDonald work with international clients?
Yes, Nichola McDonald works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Nichola McDonald cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and build psychological flexibility by learning practical skills to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful actions. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, and when life feels stuck.Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns formed in early relationships and how those patterns affect current connections and emotional responses. It supports people working through relationship difficulties, attachment wounds, and challenges with intimacy or trust.
Nichola approaches online work collaboratively, recognising that finding the best therapeutic approach is part of the process. She and each client will discuss goals, preferences, and needs to determine which methods or combination of methods are most likely to help. The plan can be adjusted over time as progress and priorities evolve.
Online therapy with a registered professional offers practical flexibility - sessions may take place via video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and comfort levels. This variety makes regular work on emotional challenges more accessible for people with busy lives, caregiving duties, or limited local options, while still allowing for focused, consistent therapeutic support.