Lucy McDonald Child and adolescent psychotherapist

Services

About me

Hello, I’m Lucy, a child and young person psychotherapist. I offer a safe, supportive space where children and teenagers can feel understood and less alone with their worries.

Together, we explore what feels difficult and find ways to make life, family and school easier. I tailor sessions to each young person’s needs.

I am trauma-informed and sometimes bring the creative arts into therapy, helping children and teens express themselves beyond words.

I support young people with:

Anxiety and stress
Low mood and depression
Low self-esteem and confidence issues
Trauma and difficult life experiences
PANS and PANDAS therapy (specialist support for children and families)

I see clients in person at my Central London or Kew therapy practices and also offer online therapy for teens, children, and parents across the UK.

Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, mood changes, or the impact of trauma, therapy can provide a safe space for healing, growth, and resilience.

A serene landscape with mountains, a river, and a clear blue sky.

PANS/PANDAS therapy

Children and families affected by PANS/PANDAS need specialist support from people who understand. That is where I can help. For information on PANS/PANDAS therapy book a free 15m consultation to find out how therapy can help your family. Sessions can take place on-line or in Kew or central London.

Anxiety and OCD treatment (SPACE)

SPACE Therapy Protocol

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Centre. It empowers parents to support their children's anxiety by adjusting their responses, rather than directly confronting the child's fears. This approach has been shown to be as effective as traditional child-focused therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in reducing anxiety symptoms.

SPACE is particularly beneficial for children who are reluctant or unable to participate in therapy. It has been successfully implemented in clinical and research settings across various countries, including the UK.

Parent coach

I offer parent coaching and support sessions. This is a warm and reflective space to listen and think about family difficulties, and explore ways to help. These therapeutic sessions focus on finding ways to cope in difficult times, so parents can support themselves and their children. As a therapist, I help parents develop insight and increase their capacity for effective, healthy parenting. I work with parents whose children have anxiety, depression, low self esteem, PANS/PANDAS, and other emotional difficulties.

Advocacy and campaign work

I am an advocate for child mental health. For many years I was a journalist and I have written on mental health and PANS/PANDAS for the Times, Tortoise and BACP, as well as other chronic health conditions

I am the co-founder of an international alliance of mental health professionals, called MIND Global Council, developing best practices, training materials, and researching therapy for neuroimmune conditions, like PANS/PANDAS.

I also host the PANS/PANDAS Stories podcast.

I helped set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for PANS/PANDAS and am helped develop Education and Healthcare guidelines for the PANS/PANDAS UK charity.

Listen to my podcast here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does therapy last?

Individual sessions are 50 minutes. I see clients once a week in term time. I typically meet parents first for a consultation and then if we feel it is a good fit, I will meet their child for three sessions to see if therapy with me suits them. Then we can make a plan for short or long-term therapy. I work systemically and liaise with schools and other professionals. I meet with parents once a school term for updates on the child's life and health. How long the course of therapy is depends on you. We can discuss this at the start and as therapy progresses.

In-person or online?

I only work on-line with children who are more than 11-years-old, although I prefer to meet face-to-face in Harley Street or Kew for at least some sessions. For younger children, I only work in person. For parent sessions, we can meet online or in person. I offer hybrid sessions - some times in person and some times on-line.

How much is it and how do I book?

I work with the Children's e-hospital in Harley Street and in Kew ,SW London. Fees vary depending on location. https://childrens-e-hospital.selectandbook.com/ or lucymcdonaldpsychotherapy@gmail.com

What is your clinic like?

My room in Harley street has art supplies and toys. Parents or carers can wait in the large waiting room, where there is WiFi and nearby coffee shops. The nearest tubes are Oxford Circus or Bond Street. There is limited on-street parking nearby.

My room in Kew is in the National Archives, and part of a private educational organisation, a friendly and supportive place with toys, paint and paper, beanbags and boardgames . There is free parking nearby, but no waiting room, although shops for coffee nearby.

What qualifications does Lucy have?

Lucy is registered as a counsellor with the UKCP and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. She worked as a counsellor in London schools for six years. She has a long interest and understanding of PANS/PANDAS. She has a Masters in Integrative Child Psychotherapy at the Institute of Art Therapy in Education with the University of East London. She has undertaken additional courses on working with parents, trauma, online therapy and systemic work. She is DBT-informed, and trained in OCD therapies including ERP and SPACE.

Does Lucy only work with PANS/PANDAS children?

Lucy works with children with different challenges including low mood, anxiety, trauma, and poor self-esteem.

She works closely with Dr Tim Ubhi and the team at the Children's e-Hospital for a multi-disciplinary approach if necessary.

How does Lucy work with families?

Lucy offers a warm and reflective space to see parents on their own. Here they can think together about family difficulties, and explore strategies to help. Most parents have three sessions spread out over six weeks. This allows Lucy to get to know the family and their difficulties, and give insight and assistance into understanding their child's emotional life.

What about siblings?

When there is illness in the family brothers and sisters can be overlooked as the ill sibling needs more attention until they are better. This can create difficult family dynamics. These sessions will focus on the sibling and their experiences and look at strategies for families to support the forgotten "easy" child.

What age groups does Lucy work with?

Lucy works with children, adolescents, from the age of four until their 19th birthday. She also works with parents.

Help we are in a crisis!

In emergencies please call 999, your local CAMHS or visit A&E. I check emails in office hours in term time, and will get back to you as soon as I can. I do not provide emergency care. For resources check https://www.kooth.com/urgent-support

Testimonials

"We valued Lucy's kind manner, expertise and knowledge of trauma informed practice." (Primary school SENCO)

"We saw the children Lucy worked with grow in confidence, become lighter and less burdened with worry." (School leader of inclusion)

"Thanks for helping me with my feelings" (8 year old school girl)

"Thanks for being both my and my daughter's mentor" (parent to primary school child)