Donna Maria Bradley

Donna Maria Bradley Family Systems & Separation Consultancy | MBACP-Accredited Therapist | Educator & Trainer Company Number: NI697240. Communication patterns and behaviours.

I am the Founder and CEO o f My Family Matters Foundation Ltd, which is a private limited company. Founded in January 2023 and incorporated as a limited company by guarantee under the Companies Act 2006. Registered with the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland:NIC109741

I am a BACP-accredited therapist, qualified in mediation skills (level 6 with distinction), and hold a Masters degree (Distinc

tion) specialising in post-separation family dynamics and parent child relationship problems. With over a decade of experience in family separation contexts, I provide consultancy, psychoeducational support, and CPD-accredited training for professionals working within mental health, family law, safeguarding, and emotionally complex family systems. My work focuses on:

Coercive control and post-separation dynamics. Parental separation and family systems breakdown. Attachment disruption and child contact difficulties. Trauma-informed understanding of family behaviour in mental health and legal contexts. I also deliver CPD-accredited training for professionals and organisations on coercive control, domestic abuse dynamics, and trauma-informed approaches to complex family separation cases. Previously, I have held governance and advisory roles and have worked as the Co-Editor of the Parental Alienation Newsletter (until 2023) and Board Member of The Change for Children UK (until 2023). I also have extensive experience in charitable governance, training development, and organisational leadership within the family support sector. My role is consultative and educational in nature. I do not provide expert witness reports, or court testimony.

29/08/2026

Leaving a relationship with an abusive person is usually the time they turn their attention on using your children as a way to control and further abuse you.

You can’t always control what happens around you, but you can protect the space within you. Rest, breathe, reconnect, re...
29/08/2026

You can’t always control what happens around you, but you can protect the space within you. Rest, breathe, reconnect, remember you are important too and you are loved.

❤️

29/08/2026

When people engage in coercive controlling and alienating behaviours it’s the children that will be left to deal with the emotional and psychological impact of these actions.

Family court question:What do you wish you had of known before you started the family court proceedings?
29/08/2026

Family court question:

What do you wish you had of known before you started the family court proceedings?

Family court question:If you could give one piece of advice to a parent who is about to enter the family court for the f...
29/08/2026

Family court question:

If you could give one piece of advice to a parent who is about to enter the family court for the first time, what would you tell them?

Children have feelings about their family separating too. The may have a host of thoughts and feelings, sad, worried, an...
29/08/2026

Children have feelings about their family separating too. The may have a host of thoughts and feelings, sad, worried, angry, confused or sometimes they may appear completely fine, but that often depends on the context as not every family separation comes without complexities.

However, giving children the opportunity to talk about what they're experiencing matters.

Listen.
Ask what they're thinking.
Give them space to express their feelings.
Let them know their feelings matter too.
Most importantly please reassure them that they don't have to choose between their parents.

Your childrens voices matter too.

❤️

Every morning is another opportunity to pause, refocus and choose how you want to move through the day.Have a wonderful ...
29/08/2026

Every morning is another opportunity to pause, refocus and choose how you want to move through the day.

Have a wonderful day.

28/08/2026

So many parents, grandparents and other family members would do anything to hear or see their child/ren, grandchildren. Even aunts, uncles, cousins can be alienated once a parent has been alienated from their child.

When you’re dealing with coercive control and or alienating behaviours that are affecting your relationship with your ch...
28/08/2026

When you’re dealing with coercive control and or alienating behaviours that are affecting your relationship with your child, it can take over your entire life. You may find yourself constantly checking your phone, replaying conversations, worrying about what might happen next, and feeling like you have to solve everything.

Below I have noted a few self-care tips you may wish to incorporate to help you look after your own well-being while going through these traumatic life experiences.

1. Give yourself a ‘worry window’ Instead of allowing the situation to take over your whole day, give yourself a set amount of time to deal with it. For example, this could mean 20 minutes in the evening to read messages, make notes, organise paperwork or think about what needs to happen next.

Outside that time, when your mind starts going back to it, remind yourself: I'll deal with it during my worry time. It sounds simple, but creating boundaries around the problem can stop it consuming every moment of your day.

2. Create phone-free periods, by putting down your phone/ placing on silent for a period of time. If checking messages makes you anxious, decide on specific times when you'll check them.

3. Have a ‘reset’ routine: When you notice yourself becoming overwhelmed, have a simple routine you can return to. Step outside your home for five minutes, listen to music, o for a walk, practice mindfulness, breathing exercises.

The goal is to bring your nervous system down enough that you can get through the next part of your day.

4. Keep your life bigger than the situation by making a conscious effort to keep connecting to friends, watch a comedy something to lift your mind, read. Exercise in a way you enjoy. Work on a hobby. Spend time with people who make you feel like yourself. You know its ok to give yourself permission to have a good day. Enjoying your life doesn't mean you don't care about your child/ren.

If you're living through something like this, you may not be able to control everything that's happening around you but you can create small areas of your life that are still yours.

Children do not need to be overhearing adult conversations about their parents separation. They need reassurance, safety...
28/08/2026

Children do not need to be overhearing adult conversations about their parents separation. They need reassurance, safety, love, honesty and the freedom to talk about how they feel.

❤️

Address

Derry
Derry

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 2pm
4pm - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+442871163138

Website

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