BMC Therapy

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Online Therapy

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

My name is Bernadette McDonald. I am a qualified counsellor, trainee psychotherapist, and qualified Social Worker with over 16 years’ experience supporting children, young people, adults, and families through complex emotional experiences, grief, trauma, and life transitions.

I offer a warm, relational, and compassionate therapeutic space where clients can feel safe to explore themselves openly, without judgement. I work affirmatively with LGBTQ+ clients and understand how experiences relating to identity, relationships, belonging, family dynamics, difference, discrimination, or feeling unseen can impact emotional wellbeing and sense of self.

My approach is integrative and grounded in relational, psychodynamic, and person-centred therapy. I believe the therapeutic relationship itself can become a space for healing, understanding, and growth. I work collaboratively and sensitively, recognising that beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, particularly if you have felt misunderstood, marginalised, or unsupported in other areas of life.

Alongside private practice, I have extensive professional experience within palliative care, bereavement support, child and family services, and emotional support work. I have a particular interest in grief and loss, attachment, anxiety, identity, self-esteem, relational patterns, and the long-term impact of early experiences.

I offer therapy online across the UK and in person near London Bridge, creating an accessible and inclusive space for clients from all backgrounds, identities, and relationship experiences.

Sexual identity:

Other

Gender identity: Female

Gender history: As assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: No

Intersex: No

Neurodivergent: Yes

Qualifications - Links to websites:

• MSc Therapeutic Counselling (currently completing)
• Qualified Counsellor
• Qualified and Registered Social Worker
• Over 16 years’ experience within health, social care, bereavement, palliative care, and therapeutic support services

Professional Memberships:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• Social Work England

Website and Links:

• BMC Therapy
• Instagram: @bmctherapy
• Online and in-person therapy near London Bridge

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award

Experience and approach:

My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing on psychodynamic, relational, and person-centred therapy. I am interested in how our past experiences, relationships, and attachment patterns can shape the way we experience ourselves, others, and the world around us. Together, we can explore recurring patterns, difficult emotions, identity, relationships, loss, anxiety, self-worth, or experiences that may feel hard to make sense of alone.

I work collaboratively and at a pace that feels manageable for each client, recognising that beginning therapy can feel exposing or uncertain. I aim to offer a space where clients feel genuinely heard, accepted, and able to speak openly without fear of judgement.

Alongside private practice, I have extensive experience working within palliative care, bereavement support, and child and family services, supporting people through complex and emotionally challenging experiences. I work affirmatively with LGBTQ+ clients and welcome people from all backgrounds, identities, and relationship experiences.

Approaches: