Isla Donaldson , NCPS

Isla Donaldson brings a compassionate, grounded approach to therapy, helping people reconnect with their direct experience as a resource for living. She focuses on restoring balance, meaning and a sense of connection by working alongside clients with presence, understanding and gentle challenge. Isla creates a collaborative space where the pace and direction of work are guided by each person’s unique needs and priorities, and where emotions, bodily sensations and memories are welcomed without judgement.

Her practice is relational and person-centered, founded on a belief in each person’s innate capacity for growth. Isla integrates somatic and trauma-informed methods, using in-the-moment sensations and feelings as pathways to expand awareness, process emotion and support nervous system regulation. This embodied focus aims to develop greater self-awareness, self-acceptance and resilience so people can move forward with more clarity and self-trust.

Over the past five years she has worked with both adults and young people on issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief and trauma. She has specific experience supporting people impacted by abuse, suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviours. Isla holds a first-class BA in Humanistic Counselling Practice and the NCPS credential, which indicates professional training in counselling and psychological support. She has pursued further training in somatics, integrative somatic trauma therapy, polyvagal theory, systemic trauma, IFS, attachment theory, sex and sexuality, boundaries and consent, safeguarding, applied suicide intervention and online therapy.

Client-centered, somatic and trauma-informed care online

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, non-directive relationship in which the therapist trusts each person’s capacity to find their own solutions. It is useful for people seeking support with self-esteem, depression, relationship difficulties and general life transitions because it places the client’s experience and choices at the heart of the work.

Somatic Therapy focuses on the body’s signals and sensations as integral to emotional healing. By bringing attention to breath, posture and physical responses, this approach helps people process stored tension or trauma and develop new ways to regulate stress and reconnect with their bodies.

Trauma-Focused Therapy offers structured ways to address the impacts of traumatic experiences, combining safety-building, processing and regulation to reduce the hold of traumatic memories and symptoms. It is particularly relevant for people affected by abuse, post-traumatic stress and self-harming behaviours.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Isla will work with each person to explore which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the approach as the work evolves.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging expands practical access to licensed professionals and therapists. These options offer flexibility in scheduling, allow therapy to fit into busy lives, and make it possible to maintain continuity of care from different locations and circumstances.