Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell , BACP

Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell is a UK-based therapist with 16 years of professional experience, offering supportive weekly sessions tailored to each person’s needs. She provides therapy by video, telephone, or chat and currently has availability only on Thursday daytime sessions; she does not have evening or weekend slots. Cheryl offers weekly appointments and does not provide fortnightly or ad-hoc sessions on Betterhelp, preferring a consistent weekly rhythm for most clients.

Her work is guided by a person-centred foundation combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other methods, and she adapts techniques and life coaching elements to suit individual goals. Cheryl creates a non-judgmental space where clients can explore thoughts, emotions, boundaries, hopes, and practical steps forward. She is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and offers an informed, respectful space for people exploring identity and relationship concerns.

Cheryl has experience across settings including GP practices, schools, women’s services, bereavement support, and services for victims of crime. She has supported people with depression, anxiety, stress, eating and sleeping concerns, grief, parenting challenges, trauma, attachment and abandonment issues, and neurodivergent clients with social skills and emotional regulation. Cheryl also works with people affected by career change, addiction, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue. She holds BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) credentials and adapts her approach to meet each client’s particular needs and sensory preferences when working online.

Approaches for online therapy and flexible care

Cheryl McDonald-Tuckwell draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to shape online work in practical, person-focused ways. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that reflect personal values - this can help with anxiety, stress, and navigating life changes. Client-Centred Therapy emphasises empathy, active listening, and genuine understanding so clients can explore identity, self-esteem, and relationship concerns at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and test unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and develop more effective coping strategies, which is useful for anxiety, low mood, and sleep or eating difficulties.

Finding the best therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Cheryl works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences and adapts methods over time so therapy fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging can make regular support easier to fit into a busy life. These options provide flexibility in scheduling, allow people to connect from their chosen environment, and make it simpler to maintain continuity with a licensed professional or therapist when in-person sessions are impractical.