Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell, BACP

Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell is a UK-based therapist with 16 years of professional experience and holds BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, a recognised professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. She currently has limited availability - offering daytime appointments on Thursdays only - and does not have evening or weekend slots at this time.

She provides weekly sessions via video, telephone, or chat, and does not offer fortnightly or ad-hoc appointments on Betterhelp, offering only weekly sessions. Her approach is tailored to the individual, blending established methods to meet each person's needs. Whether someone is new to therapy or seeking support for difficult emotions, she works collaboratively to explore thoughts, needs, emotions, aspirations, and personal boundaries while guiding clients toward greater self-understanding.

Cheryl aims to create a non-judgmental space where people can be authentic and feel heard. She focuses on listening with acceptance and helping clients connect more deeply with themselves. Each session is adapted to what the client brings that week, with Cheryl following the client’s pace and priorities to shape the therapeutic journey.

Her areas of specialty include stress, anxiety, LGBT matters, relationship issues, self-esteem, coping with life changes, addictions, family difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting, anger, career questions, bipolar disorder, depression, coaching, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, avoidant personality, blended family challenges, commitment and communication problems, control issues, coping with disasters, dissociation, divorce and separation, domestic violence, family problems, and forgiveness.

Cheryl trained primarily in Person-Centred counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and augments these foundations with approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. She also brings life coaching techniques to support practical change where appropriate.

She has experience working with adults, teens, and children across settings including GP practices, schools, women’s services, cancer support, and services for victims of crime and bereavement. She has supported people through miscarriage, stillbirth, fertility issues, termination of pregnancy, and trauma related to violent crime. Cheryl works with clients to understand childhood emotional neglect, attachment styles, and how these patterns affect relationships and parenting. She also has experience supporting neurodivergent clients with social skills and emotional regulation, and she is mindful of sensory needs when working online.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, she offers a welcoming space for exploration of identity and related life concerns. Cheryl emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she adapts the dialogue and treatment plan to meet each person’s specific needs.