Dr Claire McDonald is a skilled and experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist. She completed her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology at University College Dublin, a Master of Science in Neuroscience at Goldsmith’s College, University of London and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College Dublin, graduating from both with first class honours. She works with adults with a wide range of common and more complex forms of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, work-related stress and burnout, trauma (PTSD & CPTSD), addiction, dissociative conditions and relationship difficulties.
Dr McDonald works with both individuals and couples and is trained in several specialist therapeutic approaches including Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness-based approaches including Compassion Focussed Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. She has a passion for working creatively and collaboratively with her clients to understand what factors might be driving the problems in question and how they may be overcome to enhance wellbeing and live a more fulfilling life. Dr McDonald is a Member of the Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Association UK. She has published research in international scientific journals in the areas of neuroscience, personality disorder and employee wellbeing and lectured on specialist Master’s and Doctoral training courses at King’s College London.
Dr McDonald has trained and worked in both Ireland and the UK and held a variety of senior clinical roles during her 10 years working for the NHS alongside her private practise. She set up an Occupational Health Psychology service and led a team of psychologists offering individual, team-based and organisational support to staff at King’s College Hospital in London for several years during the Covid-19 pandemic forming part of an award-winning Health and Wellbeing programme. Prior to this, while working at the Maudsley Hospital, London, she supported adults with complex and enduring mental health problems and provided training and reflective practise to staff teams working in acute settings.
In 2024, Dr McDonald joined the Chelsea Psychology Clinic management team as Corporate and Wellness Lead; a role which reflects her passion for enhancing well-being in individuals, teams, and organisations through the delivery of bespoke interventions. She has been involved in the development of the clinic’s wellness retreats since 2019.