Cheryl Kennedy MacDonald

MA BA (Hons) Pg.Dip. MBACP (Accred.) SAC
Registered Psychotherapist

I grew up in Glasgow, a city that doesn’t care who you think you are or where you came from. Humour is our antidote to pain, honesty is non-negotiable, and resilience is part of the language.

Those values sit at the heart of my work as a psychotherapist: warm, human, steady and direct, without sugar-coating, jargon or theatrics.

For over two decades, I’ve supported women through the chapters that change us: motherhood, menopause, midlife, heartbreak, divorce, relocation, identity shifts, relationship trauma, narcissistic abuse, ADHD and the long-term impact of childhood trauma.

Today, my work focuses on supporting women who are navigating relationship trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, difficult parent relationships, childhood emotional neglect, boundaries with family, ADHD in adult women, and the identity changes that often come with motherhood, menopause, midlife and expat life.

My approach is person-centred, trauma-informed, feminist and integrative. I offer a calm, confidential space where we can tell the truth at your pace, without judgement.

Real change happens when you can bring your whole self into the room: body, mind, history, relationships and lived experience as parts of the same story.

How I Work

My work is integrative, trauma-informed and grounded in both evidence-based psychotherapy and embodied practice.

I draw from:

CBT and ACT to support clarity, emotional regulation, boundaries and practical, sustainable change.

Psychodynamic, attachment-based and depth-oriented therapy to explore recurring relationship patterns, childhood trauma, family-of-origin wounds, difficult parent relationships and the protective beliefs that may have formed early in life.

Coherence Therapy and Depth-Oriented Brief Therapy to gently uncover the deeper emotional logic beneath symptoms, patterns and self-protective behaviours, helping you understand not just what you do, but why it has made sense for you.

Somatic and mindfulness-based practices to support nervous-system regulation, body awareness and reconnection with yourself.

Specialist ADHD support for women with attention to emotional intensity, overwhelm, rejection sensitivity, masking, burnout and late diagnosis.

Integrative sex and relationship therapy to support intimacy, desire, communication and relational repair where clinically appropriate.

The Rewind Technique, where suitable, to help reduce the emotional charge of specific traumatic memories without detailed re-exposure.

I’m direct when it helps and gentle when it matters. We work collaboratively – no quick fixes, no performing, no forcing yourself to be “better” before you feel safe to do so.

Therapy with me is steady, honest and deeply respectful of your pace. The aim is to help you understand your patterns, regulate your nervous system, rebuild self-trust and move forward with a stronger, more grounded sense of who you are.

Sessions are available in person in Singapore and online globally.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 37 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   J O 
 3 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been seeing cheryl for a while now and I highly recommend her.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   N G 
 24 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cheryl is an amazing therapist. Her non-judgemental, warm but honest approach has really helped me navigate a difficult time through post partum anxiety and dealing with ADHD. I feel very validated and supported in our sessions and I appreciate her guidance into how I can manage my emotions.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   A L 
 30 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   S N 
 30 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   T N 
 92 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ll get straight to the point—I needed help understanding what was happening in my life. I felt like I was spiralling, losing my confidence, and was almost completely broken.

I booked a session with Cheryl, half terrified of what I might discover about myself. Instead, I found someone who was incredibly reassuring, compassionate, and supportive. She helped me gain clarity, make sense of my situation, and, for the first time in a long while, I felt truly seen and validated.

She also offered practical guidance on how to recenter myself, and I left the session feeling immensely empowered. Thank you, Cheryl, for changing the way I see myself, helping me rediscover my confidence, and giving me hope again.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   C K 
 126 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   M F 
 186 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't recommend Cheryl enough! She is an incredible listener and creates such a safe, supportive space tailored specifically to women. Working with her helped me realize so much about myself and my own patterns that I couldn't see before. She is asking exactly the right questions and gave me practical tools to stop putting myself last and finally trust my own judgment. If you’re a woman looking for a therapist who genuinely understands our unique challenges and life transitions, definitely reach out to her. 💜
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   R S 
 190 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cheryl has been very understanding and supported me get through a very traumatising time in my life validating my feelings of anxiety and fear as well as giving me clarity in narcissistic behaviour.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   R W 
 190 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I worked with Cheryl at a really difficult time in my life and I’m so glad I found her.
From the first Zoom call she just understood what I was dealing with without me having to over explain anything.

She has a way of making you feel comfortable straight away but also being honest in a way that actually helps you see things clearly.
I felt supported the whole way through and every session gave me more clarity and strength within myself.

Cheryl is very knowledgeable and genuinely cares about the people she works with.
I’m really grateful for her help and the difference she’s made for me and I honestly can’t recommend her enough.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   A V 
 191 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cheryl has been incredibly supportive and insightful—she creates a safe space where I feel truly heard and understood. Her guidance has made a meaningful difference in how I navigate my thoughts and emotions.

Professional Credentials

Licenses & Certifications

Registered Psychotherapist MBACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)
Registered Member of SAC (Singapore Association of Counseling)
Registered Member of IAC (International Association of Counselling)
E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Therapist)
YogaBellies® Founder & Lead Teacher Trainer (Yoga Alliance International–accredited school)

education background

BA (Hons) Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree
Pg.Dip. Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counseling & Psychotherapy
MA Master’s Degree in Integrative Counseling & Psychotherapy
ADHD-CSP (ADHD Clinical Services Provider)
Certified Integrative Sex and Couples Therapist (CISC) – Dr. Tammy Nelson
Certified Integrative Relationship Therapy Professional (C-IRT) – Tammy Nelson
Phoenix Divorce Recovery Practitioner
Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC) – Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Certified Rewind Technique Practitioner

Professional Experience

Psychotherapist specialising in relationship trauma/narcissistic abuse, childhood trauma, midlife transitions, ADHD in women, and couples work.
25+ years supporting women’s physical and mental health across life stages through therapt, mentoring and movement;
International practice (Singapore & online).
Founder of YogaBellies®; trained teachers globally and supported 100,000+ women.
Creator of YogaPause™ (menopause & hormonal balance).
Recognised by LuxLife & Great British Entrepreneur Awards;
Media features include ITV’s This Morning and BBC’s Dragon’s Den.

Research & Publications

My clinical work is grounded in published academic research. I am a peer-reviewed author whose work explores the intersection of embodied practice, somatic psychotherapy, and women’s health across the lifespan.

Peer-reviewed journal articles:

Kennedy MacDonald, C. (2026). Embodiment and somatic-informed psychotherapeutic practice in the prenatal journey: a reflective integration of holistic birth preparation and prenatal yoga.

Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy. Routledge/Taylor & Francis. → https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2026.2648493

MacDonald, C. (2013). Mother and baby yoga is good for you. The Practising Midwife. → https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23789249

MacDonald, C. (2012). What midwives need to know about baby massage. The Practising Midwife. → https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23082398

Further academic publications in development. ORCID: 0009-0007-3944-4548

Books

I am the author of more than 10 books on women’s health, yoga, birth, and midlife wellbeing — practical, honest guides that meet women where they actually are.

Selected titles include:

YogaPause: What Women Need to Know After 40 and Why Yoga Is the Answer — a positive, evidence-informed guide to perimenopause and menopause

Birth ROCKS: Realistic Hypnobirthing and Birth Preparation for All Women — a calm, body-based approach to pregnancy and birth preparation

YogaBellies for Pregnancy — the complete yoga and wellness guide across all four trimesters

Unleashing Your Radiant Life: A YogaPause Guided Journal for Women Over 40

The MindBodyME Journal by YogaBellies — 90 days of integrated women’s wellness

My Dream Yoga Business Journal — for women building a yoga teaching career

→ Full bibliography and all titles available HERE

In the Press & Media

My work has been featured across print, broadcast, and digital media internationally.

Broadcast: BBC Dragons’ Den winner – ITV This Morning yoga and women’s health contributor

Print & digital features: Yoga Journal · The Practising Midwife · Psychologies · Women’s Health · Women’s Fitness · Mother & Baby · HELLO! · OK! · OM Yoga Magazine · Juno · The Green Parent · Daily Mail · Your Fitness

Awards: LuxLife Most Inspirational Women’s Yoga Teacher 2021 · Great British Entrepreneur Award 2019 · Scottish Edge Award for Enterprise 2013 · Woman of the Year Award 2014 · Mumpreneur UK Award 2012