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Home Counsellors Isla Donaldson
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Isla Donaldson, NCPS

Credentials
NCPS
Experience
5 years
Practising in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Sessions
Online only
Client ages
Adults, 18 and over

Works with Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

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Isla Donaldson helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties. She works with those affected by trauma and abuse, and supports people struggling with self-esteem. Isla aims to make therapy straightforward and practical for anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

She creates a calm, collaborative space for conversation. Sessions focus on what matters to the person and move at a pace that feels right. Isla listens with presence, offers gentle challenge, and uses a mix of talking and body-based awareness to process feelings.

Background and approach

Her background includes five years of clinical experience in the United Kingdom. Isla holds NCPS as a credential and completed a first-class degree in Humanistic Counselling Practice (BA). Her training also covers somatics, trauma work, attachment, and suicide intervention.

In practice she blends client-centred listening with existential thinking and somatic techniques. That means she pays attention to what people say and how they experience feelings in their body, while also exploring meaning and life direction when helpful. Therapy aims to build self-trust, clarity and practical coping skills.

Isla has worked with adults and young people on issues such as grief, low self-worth, relationship conflict, impulsivity and post-traumatic stress. She can support people who have experienced sexual assault or who are struggling with self-harm and suicidal thinking. Sessions are tailored to each person’s needs and goals.

To begin, a person completes the initial matching steps and then arranges sessions at mutually convenient times. Isla’s approach is steady and respectful, focused on helping people reconnect with their own resources and move forward with greater resilience.

How her approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding. The therapist follows the person’s lead, reflecting back what’s said and helping people find their own answers. This approach helps with low self-esteem, anxiety and relationship concerns by building trust and self-awareness.

Somatic Therapy pays attention to bodily sensations as clues to emotional experience. It uses gentle awareness of breath, posture and tension to help people notice and work through strong feelings. This can be useful for trauma, shame and overwhelm where talk alone feels incomplete.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with the person to decide which methods suit their needs, goals and preferences. That means testing things gently and adjusting as progress or difficulties appear.

Online sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone conversations, live chat or text-based messaging. Video is useful for fuller face-to-face interaction, while phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier for quick check-ins. Live chat or messaging supports shorter updates, ongoing reflection and people who prefer writing. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around work, family and daily life.
What concerns does Isla specialise in?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and trauma and abuse. Additional focus areas include self-esteem, body image, isolation and post-traumatic stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is calm, collaborative and person-centred. Sessions combine attentive listening, gentle challenge and work with bodily sensations when needed.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Isla has five years of experience working in therapeutic settings. Her work has included supporting people with grief, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and complex trauma.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds NCPS and completed a first-class BA in Humanistic Counselling Practice. She practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Work can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. These formats suit different needs like shorter check-ins or not being on camera.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of focus

What this therapist works with

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Experience
5 years
Registered with
NCPS
Languages
English

Contacting Isla

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