Donna Mc Cafferty
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Empowering Personal Growth and Wellbeing Through Therapeutic Support
A warm welcome, my name is Donna Mc Cafferty, and I am a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist (MSc in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD, Certificate in Narrative Therapy)
I am passionate about providing a safe and compassionate space for individuals who are seeking counselling and psychotherapy. With my years of experience, I offer personalised support to help clients navigate through life’s challenges.
My approach focuses on fostering self-awareness and empowering clients to achieve emotional well-being. Whether you are facing bereavement, loss, stress, work related difficulties, anxiety, trauma, spiritual crisis or relationship issues, I am here to support you on your journey towards healing, change and growth. I work from a Trauma-Informed perspective and use modalities such as Person-centred psychotherapy, Narrative therapy, Polyvagal therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Solution-Focused therapy.
One to One Online Counselling and Psychotheapy For Adults (18+)
Online Therapy
50 Minute Sessions
£70/€80 Per Session
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you provide online counselling and psychotherapy?
Yes! I provide online sessions via Teams or Google Meets. Contact me by email me mccaffertydonna@outlook.com to book in a session
What should I expect at the first session?
Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. I will take some basic contact details for you and we will spend time talking through what you can expect. I will try to gain a better understanding of what has brought you to therapy and how we can best help you to get what you would like from therapy. I will guide you through the session at a pace that works well for you. There is no pressure for you to know “where to start or know what to say”, that’s where I come in, to help guide that process! Feel free to ask me any questions during the session or before hand if that is more helpful.
What kind of therapy is it?
The therapy approach is pluralistic, meaning I use a range of approaches dependant on your needs. These approaches are evidence based and include Person-centered therapy, CBT, ACT, Relational, Narrative therapy, Solution focused brief therapy, and Poly vagal theory.
Are the sessions confidential?
I take your confidentiality really seriously! Your information is not shared without your consent, subject to legal exceptions. In circumstances where there may be a risk of harm to you from yourself, to/from another person, a child or organisation we may need to extend our confidentiality to ensure that you and/or others are supported and kept safe. We talk all of this through and any questions you may have around this at the first session.
How long do sessions last and much does the therapy cost?
Sessions last 50 minutes and cost €80 or £70.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. I ask that you cancel or reschedule any appointments 48 hours in advance and forward the therapy fee at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment to confirm the session. Cancellations made outside of 48 hours’ notice are subject to the full fee.
Do you provide letters for work or legal proceedings?
I provide a non-validation service, meaning I do not provide reports or letters in support of work, legal or court proceedings. A letter with dates of attendance may be provided on request.
Do you provide receipts for private insurers or tax refunds?
Yes, I can provide you with receipts for sessions completed on request.
I am registered with the IACP in Ireland which is recognised and accepted by most Irish health insurers.
Income tax relief on Counselling and Psychotherapy fees of up to 20% annually is available to individuals, including PAYE employees, the self- employed and those with other sources of taxable income in Ireland. This is in the form of qualifying ‘health expenses’ as defined in section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.
I am registered with the NCPS in the UK and registered with insurers such as AVIVA, ALLIANZ, VITALITY HEALTH, WPA in the UK.
*Please always check with your health insurer first to gain full clarity around cover.
Finding Strength Through Support: How Counselling Can Help You Heal and Thrive
In today’s fast-paced, demanding world, many of us carry emotional burdens that weigh heavily on our mental, emotional, and even physical health. Whether it’s the weight of unprocessed grief, the disorientation of a spiritual crisis, or the chronic toll of stress and anxiety, these experiences can feel isolating and overwhelming. However, you don’t have to carry it alone.
Why Seek Counselling?
Our loved ones are usually the first and most wonderful sources of support and healing. However, this may not be true for everyone and sometimes seeking support from someone outside our usual networks of support becomes necessary and important.
Counselling is a safe, confidential, and supportive space where you can begin to unpack the emotions, experiences, and thoughts that may be holding you back from living a fuller, more peaceful life. It’s not about being “broken” or needing to be “fixed”, it’s about finding clarity, healing, and empowerment through understanding.
Here are some of the key areas where counselling can offer profound support:
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Modern life may bring with it an endless stream of pressures, work deadlines, family obligations, financial concerns, and more. Chronic stress and anxiety can cloud your thinking, disrupt your sleep, and affect your overall wellbeing. Through therapy, you can learn to recognize your stress patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and reclaim a sense of calm and control.
Navigating Loss and Grief
Grief isn’t limited to the death of a loved one or pet. It can stem from the end of a relationship, the loss of identity, career, life goals or even life transitions. Grieving is a deeply personal journey, and counselling provides a compassionate space to honour your loss, process your feelings, and begin to move again at your own pace.
Healing from Trauma
Trauma leaves lasting imprints, on your emotions, your body, and your ability to trust and connect. Whether your trauma stems from childhood, recent experiences, or repeated emotional wounds, therapy can gently guide you through the healing process, helping you feel safe, grounded, and whole again.
Supporting Relationship Challenges
Relationships are at the heart of our emotional lives and overall wellbeing. Yet they can also be sources of conflict, misunderstanding, or pain. Whether you’re struggling with communication, trust, boundaries, or intimacy, counselling offers tools and insights to foster healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Understanding Spiritual Crisis
Spiritual crises often arise when our beliefs, values, or sense of meaning or purpose are shaken. This can leave us feeling lost or disconnected. Therapy can help you explore these deep questions in a respectful, non-judgmental way, helping you rebuild a meaningful sense of identity, connection, and hope.
What Makes My Counselling Service Different?
I understand from my own life challenges and experiences of seeking help that beginning therapy can feel like a scary and vulnerable step. That’s why I am committed to creating a warm, compassionate, and inclusive environment where you feel heard, respected, and supported.
What’s important to you is what matters to me. We will work together to create a unique therapeutic approach to your individual needs, drawing from a variety of therapeutic methods to help you move from merely surviving to truly thriving.
A Journey Worth Taking
Everyone deserves to feel supported. Despite some lingering societal stigma, counselling isn’t about weakness or failure it’s about courage. It’s about saying yes to healing, yes to growth, and yes to the life you want to lead.
If you’re struggling or simply feeling stuck, I invite you to reach out. Whether you’re dealing with stress, grief, trauma, or relationship issues, help is here. And you don’t have to do it alone.
When you feel ready, get in touch to schedule a confidential session. Let’s begin the journey together.
Healing from Within: Supporting Trauma Recovery Through Compassionate Counselling
Trauma is a deeply personal and often invisible wound that affects millions of people in Ireland, the UK and across the world. Whether it stems from a single distressing event or a prolonged period of adversity, trauma can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and physical imprints.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not just “something bad that happened.” It’s the persistent emotional, physiological and behavioural wounds and responses that result from living through overwhelming life experiences. These experiences can threaten our sense of safety, control, and connection sometimes shaking the very foundation of who we are and the world in which we move in.
Common Causes of Trauma:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Domestic or sexual violence or coercive control
- Sudden loss or bereavement
- Accidents or injuries
- Medical trauma or serious illness
- Witnessing violence or experiencing war/conflict
- Natural disasters or community tragedies
- Trauma can also be intergenerational, meaning it may be passed through family systems or generations. Collective trauma can also affect entire communities following adversities such as historical oppression, colonisation or cultural displacement.
The Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma affects each person differently, but many people experience similar symptoms that impact daily life, relationships, and self-worth. These may include:
- • Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Anxiety, panic attacks, or chronic fear
• Depression and emotional numbness
• Detachment or dissociation
• Sleep disturbances or nightmares
• Hypervigilance or difficulty relaxing
• An easy startle response
• Shame, guilt, or self-blame - Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
- Difficulty trusting others or forming connections
Unresolved trauma may also lead to physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, muscular- skeletal pain or digestive issues, and is often linked to long-term mental health conditions like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), complex PTSD, and dissociative disorders.
My Approach: Compassionate, Confidential, Trauma-Informed Counselling
I work from a trauma-informed approach that recognises the complex, layered nature of trauma. We know that healing takes time, trust, and the right support.
Here’s how I can help:
- Safety First: creating a warm, non-judgmental space where you feel secure and in control of your healing journey.
- Stabilisation, Regulation and Coping Skills: Exploring stabilisation and grounding techniques and mindfulness practices to manage overwhelming emotions.
- Understanding- Processing, Reviewing and Reappraisal of Trauma Memories: Helping you to gently explore your story, at your pace, uncovering how past events may be shaping present struggles.
- Empowerment Through Education: Providing psychoeducation so you can understand the effects of trauma on the brain, your body and your world.
- Reconnecting, Consolidating and Integration: Supporting your journey towards reclaiming your voice, boundaries, relationships, hopes, goals and sense of safety, trust and Self.
Taking the Next Steps
Whether your trauma is recent or decades old, big or seemingly “small,” acknowledged or still unclear, your experience matters. Healing is possible. And you deserve the chance to reclaim peace, resilience, and connection.
If you or someone you love is struggling with the weight of trauma, I am here to listen and support you. When you feel ready, take the first step and reach out today for a confidential consultation.
Finding Light Through Grief and Loss: How Compassionate Counselling Can Support You Through Grief
Grief changes everything.
Whether it’s the death of a loved one, a pet, the loss of a relationship, or the painful shifts that come with life’s unexpected turns, loss leaves its mark. It can feel like the ground has been pulled from beneath your feet. You may feel lost, angry, numb, overwhelmed or all these emotions at once. In these moments, having someone to talk to, someone who truly listens without judgment can make all the difference. I remember how important this was during my own loss and grief journey and is something I try to carry with me when I meet another bereaved soul.
I offer a safe, supportive space for individuals experiencing grief, loss, and bereavement. My counselling approach is rooted in compassion, understanding, and respect for each person’s individual and unique journey. There is no “right” way to grieve, and there is no timeline. Together, we will explore your feelings, honour your experiences, and begin to make meaning out of the pain and ways you may expand your world around this pain.
Why Seek Grief Counselling?
Grief can be isolating. You might feel pressure to “move on” or “stay strong,” even when everything inside you is aching. Counselling offers the chance to:
- Be heard without judgment
- Understand your grief process
- Explore feelings that may be difficult to express elsewhere
- Reconnect with life at your own pace
- Find ways to honour the person or experience you’ve lost
- Process any existential or spiritual questions and challenges
- Grief doesn’t go away, but it does change. With time, and with the right support, it can soften. You can carry it and move around it differently.
Who I Work With
I work with adults of all ages who are experiencing different forms of loss:
- Death of a partner, parent, child, or friend
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility
- Loss of identity, health, or purpose
- Relationship breakdowns or life transitions
Whether your loss is recent or something you’ve carried for years, it’s never too late to seek help.
What to Expect
Sessions are warm, respectful, and guided by your needs. You set the pace. Some days we may sit in silence or with the tears and pain, and other days we may untangle complex feelings. I’m here to walk beside you, not to direct your path through our online sessions.
Grief is a deeply human experience. You deserve support as you move through it. If you’re ready to take the next step or even if you’re unsure I’m here to listen. Reach out for a free initial consultation when the time feels right. Together, we can begin to make sense of what’s been lost and gently begin the process of healing.
Contact
