Therapy for relationship and life challenges.

To reach out to a stranger and ask for help, to seek to talk is a positive step towards growth and well being.

Relationship Therapy

People seek relationship therapy for varied reasons. Sometimes this is done as a couple, sometimes individually.

Hello, my name is Denese MacDonald, and I am a certified Relationship Counsellor of Imago Therapy, with over 23 years of experience. I am BACP registered, which means I am qualified to work with both individuals and couples. Relationship counselling is my main area of expertise.

Imago Therapy is a process designed to assist couples in overcoming a distanced, hurting relationship in order to find the love you want again. Whilst I am a practitioner of Imago Therapy, I’m essentially an 'integrative therapist'. That’s because I don't believe in a 'one size fits all' approach, so I use different therapeutic models, depending on each couple’s individual needs.


How I can help you

I'll guide you in identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns, empowering you to make positive, lasting changes. We'll collaboratively establish clear, actionable goals and develop a structured plan to effectively manage anxiety, depression, or anger.

I'll help you cultivate practical, evidence-based coping strategies and techniques to enhance your overall well-being and daily functioning. We'll explore and process past experiences to foster new perspectives, leading to more constructive behaviours and a renewed sense of self-awareness.

I'll equip you with proven relationship skills, utilising techniques to improve communication, foster connection, and build healthier dynamics.

Specialisms

Psychosexual Therapy
Trauma-informed Couple's Work
Certified Imago Relationship Therapist
Polyamorous and Non Monogamous Relationships

Problems I can help with

Trust issues and infidelity
Communication problems and not feeling heard
Conflict and frequent arguments
Relationship Problems
Feeling distant, disconnected, or stuck
Intimacy and sexual difficulties
Jealousy and insecurity
Repeating unhealthy relationship patterns

Adjustment and transition

Change is a feature of modern lives more than ever. Even in positive change it can be challenging to reach a place of disengagement from the old or unattainable and adjust to the new. Counselling as a support at this time can help you develop a supportive perspective on this change and face your challenges remembering you will have navigated through many transitions before.

Bereavement, loss and change

Are you living with the searing pain of grief?

Do you feel overwhelmed by its intensity and wonder if you can ever come through it and find pleasure in life again?

Counselling is that safe place where we can sit with your thoughts and feelings. Counselling does not respond to your natural feelings trying to fix it. Counselling will witness your loss, and support you, navigate your unique journey of grief and growth. It takes courage to feel the feelings, talk out the difficulty and find your way to integrate in a meaningful way, your loss, with your life now.

Family of origin issues

Did you grow up in a home that was terrifying and chronically stressful?

Did you feel anxious, uncertain about what you would return to every day?

Do you feel there is a legacy from your childhood that is impacting your life negatively?

Make that decision to face your past. We do this so we can stop dragging it into our now life where it undermines us with unhelpful beliefs about our self, others and the world. These beliefs create rules for living that become destructive to our well being and trap us in a loop of self-limiting and harmful behaviours.

Counselling can be your bridge to healing and thriving. Thriving comes when you integrate and accept your experiences and with the power of understanding and reprogramming your mindset you finally let go.

To let go is to not regret the past but grow and live for the future.

  • Denese is more than a therapist to me. She helped me understand some situations in my life which were always repeating. As painful as it may get, we get to know the cause of it and I get to forgive others and myself. She helped me to love the inner child in me. I never felt that I was in a therapy session with her and she always acknowledged my thoughts with no judgement. She challenged me to dig deeper into my emotions which helped me release my past traumas. I feel much better now because of her. I become my own therapist but when I am stuck, she is always there to help. Denese is very professional and experienced throughout.

    M

Take the first step towards reconnection

These are some of the areas of therapy I can assist with.
Please use the no-obligation call to discuss your aims for seeking therapy, and together we can consider if we are the right fit.

BOOK YOUR DISCOVERY CALL