Isla Donaldson

Isla Donaldson, NCPS, works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship problems. She also supports those coping with trauma and abuse, body image concerns, self-esteem struggles and feelings of emptiness. Isla aims to help clients reconnect with their direct experience so they can find more balance and clarity in daily life.

Isla offers a calm, collaborative space where the client’s priorities guide the work. She combines a person-centred, relational stance with somatic and trauma-focused attention, noticing what comes up in the body as well as in thoughts and feelings. Sessions include listening, gentle challenge and practical ways to notice and regulate emotions.

Her background includes a first-class BA in Humanistic Counselling Practice and five years of clinical experience working with adults and young people. That work has covered grief, suicidal ideation, self-harm, attachment issues and a range of anxiety and mood concerns.

Isla has completed additional training in somatics, integrative somatic trauma therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems and attachment theory, among other topics. She brings that learning into sessions while keeping the pace and focus tailored to the individual.

When someone gets in touch she usually begins by talking through what brought them to therapy and what they would like to change. Isla aims to answer questions about the process and agrees scheduling adjustments where possible.

How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions

Isla works from a person-centred approach that places the client’s needs and priorities at the centre. This means sessions start by listening to what matters most and then following the person’s pace and direction to shape the work. It is useful for anxiety, low self-worth and relationship concerns where a steady, empathic relationship helps progress.

She also uses somatic-informed practice, paying attention to bodily sensations as they arise in the session. This approach helps people notice and work with stress, panic responses and post-traumatic reactions by using simple body-based noticing and regulation strategies.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and will be decided together. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to goals, needs and comfort levels, adjusting the plan as the relationship develops.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to maintain continuity of sessions during life changes, while the therapist and client agree on how to structure meetings to suit daily routines.