Professional Clinical Psychologist Brisbane

About Margaret McDonald

Professional help from an experienced Brisbane psychologist

As a respected Brisbane psychologist with over 30 years of experience, you can be assured you are in safe hands. Margaret McDonald strives to help you change your life by providing you with the necessary skills to empower you to move forward in your life.

People may think or believe that their problems are too small to need professional help, but often, if problems are left to continue, they become more serious and can take longer to overcome. The pressure of our daily life can often lead to feelings of emotional distress, and in recent years, more people are suffering from psychological distress and symptoms than in the past.

No matter how big or complicated you feel your troubles have become, Margaret McDonald Clinical Psychologist Brisbane, can help you overcome your struggles in a practical and caring way. While there may be no immediate “cure” to your problems Margaret can help you work towards improving your situation.

Margaret adopts a practical and solution focused approach to your problems as well as providing you with information to read between sessions. This can provide a faster resolution of your worries.

Over 30 years experience

Margaret McDonald has over 30 years experience in working as a Clinical Psychologist in many different settings. She has also gained extensive and varied experience in Community Health, Welfare, Education and Court facilities, including the Family Court. Margaret’s 30 years of experience has allowed her to gain an appreciation of people’s different and varied needs.

Margaret’s Qualifications and Certifications

Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology (Inc. studies in the Family Court)
Masters Degree in Education (Specialising in Learning Difficulties and Children with Special Needs)
Graduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis (Specialising in the treatment of trauma QUT)
Diploma of Education
Registered Psychologist
Member of Australian Psychological Society
Member of College of Clinical Psychologists
Member Australian Society of Hypnosis
Registered Teacher

Creating a comfortable and relaxed environment

Margaret has created a comfortable and relaxed environment for clients to discuss the problems they are experiencing and the goals they would like to achieve. Margaret aims to reduce distress, work with you to identify issues/concerns and to empower you with the skills to move forward in your life.

Margaret can also assist you in learning new skills to overcome those problems that persist in your life, your relationships, and at work.

Many people are faced with situations in their lives that do not seem to change despite their best efforts. As an experienced Clinical Psychologist she can help you find solutions, change the way you think about problems and change the way you act and react in distressful and worrying situations.

Therapeutic Approaches

Margaret McDonald Clinical Psychologist Brisbane offers a variety of proven ways to assist with your particular problems and issues. These therapies include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which aims to change the way you solve problems and deal with distressing and emotions through challenging your thinking and the way you may have avoided issues in the past.

Behaviour Therapy

Behaviour Therapy can help you develop new ways of acting and reacting in situations where you feel stuck and helpless.

Relaxation Strategies

Relaxation strategies that can relax your body and mind at home or during the day or when you want to sleep.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a trance like state in which you feel calm and relaxed and able to absorb suggestions to change your behaviour and emotions. It is helpful in treating anxiety, habit disorders such as smoking and weight loss, as well as assisting with control over some medical conditions such as asthma, skin irritations, headaches and chronic pain conditions.

Stress management

Stress management is important in most people’s lives to deal with those times when situations seem overwhelming. By learning ways to effectively reduce your stress you can help yourself wind down at the times you need it the most.

Communication training

Communication training provides you with skills to become more assertive, less submissive or aggressive, and to resolve conflicts through negotiation or a “win – win” situation, where both people are satisfied with the outcome.

Parent management training

Parent management training can help overcome those conflicts with your partner about raising your children. Learn new ways together to discipline your children and have a happier home life. Nobody has all the answers but learning one or two new skills can dramatically change the situation.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can put you on the path to living a richer, more meaningful life by learning ways to deal with your emotions, to accept yourself, and take personal control over your future life goals.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness can assist you to become more aware of the present, let go of worrying thoughts and achieve a state of mental calmness. Through this process of awareness rather than thinking, people become more open to new ways of looking at themselves and their surroundings.

Family Therapy

Family Therapy focuses on the system of interactions between family members and involves them in finding solutions to their problems. Through changing communication patterns between family members many issues can be discussed in a supportive environment

Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology aims to help people to identify their strengths and to use them to increase their happiness and well being. It also can lead people to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life and to provide them with more resilience.