Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell , BACP

Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell is a United Kingdom based therapist with 16 years of professional experience working with adults, young people, and children. She currently has limited daytime availability on Thursdays and does not offer evening or weekend appointments. She provides weekly online sessions by video, telephone, or chat and does not offer fortnightly or ad-hoc appointments, instead focusing on regular weekly work to support steady progress.

Her practice is tailored to each person she works with, guiding exploration of thoughts, emotions, personal boundaries, aspirations, and practical needs. Cheryl draws on a blend of therapeutic methods to respond to whatever a client brings to the room, adapting each session to the clientâs current state and goals. She trained primarily in Person Centred counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - and also integrates a range of counselling techniques alongside elements of life coaching. She is a member of BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is a professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Cherylâs background includes work in a GP practice supporting depression, anxiety, stress, eating problems, loss, relationship changes, and parenting; school-based support for children facing worries, exam pressure, and school avoidance; and roles in womenâs services addressing miscarriage, fertility challenges, stillbirth, and termination. She has supported people and families through cancer-related loss, assisted victims of crime, and worked with those bereaved through murder and manslaughter. Cheryl has experience helping adults make sense of childhood emotional neglect, develop boundaries, and address attachment patterns that affect friendships and intimate relationships.

She has particular experience with neurodivergent clients, supporting social skills and emotional regulation while being mindful of sensory needs in online work. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, she offers an affirming space for sexual and gender diverse clients. Cheryl emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion and will tailor dialogue and a treatment plan to meet each person's specific needs.

Therapeutic approaches for online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT - helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take committed action toward what matters. It can be helpful for stress, anxiety, low mood, and life transitions where values-based direction is needed. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on offering a nonjudgmental, empathetic space where the client leads the pace and content of therapy; this approach supports self-exploration, confidence building, and stronger self-understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - identifies unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and works on practical strategies to change them; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and many everyday difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Cheryl will collaborate with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the mix of techniques as the work unfolds so that it remains aligned with the client's priorities. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine approaches to create an individualized plan.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or text-based messaging. This range of options makes it easier to fit regular weekly therapy into a busy life, supports continuity when travel or mobility is a concern, and can accommodate sensory preferences and access needs for neurodivergent clients, while keeping the focus on meaningful progress.