About Strong Horizons

Trauma-informed support for resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable performance

Strong Horizons is a Carlisle-based trauma-informed wellbeing consultancy built on lived experience, scientific understanding, and compassionate care.

We specialise in helping professionals, caregivers, and organisations overcome stress, anxiety, burnout, and the impact of trauma — building resilience, emotional regulation, and sustainable performance through evidence-based, nervous system-informed approaches.

Our mission is to support people, organisations and communities to thrive, not just survive — empowering them with tools, knowledge, and confidence to reclaim balance, clarity, and vitality.

We are committed to fostering a culture of compassion, psychological safety, and growth — creating stronger, healthier horizons for all.

Meet Sally MacDonald

Founder of Strong Horizons

Sally MacDonald - founder of Strong Horizons - helping people manage stress, anxiety and burnout in Carlisle

I'm Sally MacDonald - a trauma-informed coach, mental wellbeing practitioner, and former senior police investigator, with 28 years of experience in public service.

I created Strong Horizons because I know first-hand what it feels like to give everything you have — until there's nothing left to give.

I've seen how stress, trauma, and long-term pressure can quietly erode confidence, health, and connection — even in the most capable people.

I also know that healing, resilience and strong relationships are possible. With the right tools, knowledge, and support, we can rebuild balance, clarity, and confidence - even in the face of life's biggest challenges. My passion is helping professionals, caregivers, and organisations discover sustainable strategies to thrive - not just survive - in high-pressure environments.

Based in Carlisle, Cumbria, I now combine evidence-based coaching, somatic and nervous system regulation tools, and decades of frontline leadership experience to help people reclaim wellbeing and resilence.

My Journey

My professional and personal journey has shaped Strong Horizons into more than a wellbeing consultancy — it's a mission rooted in lived experience, neuroscience, and compassion.

Early Career: Psychology and Stress Management

My journey began with a degree in Psychology and further training in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). Early in my career, I founded a stress management consultancy in the North East, delivering workshops and coaching at a time when stress was still a taboo topic.

28 Years in Policing: Leading Through Trauma

I went on to spend 28 years in policing, most of it as a Detective Inspector leading major investigations into child exploitation, modern slavery, domestic abuse, homicide, and other high-harm cases.

Key roles included:

  • Nationally accredited Hostage & Suicide Negotiator

  • Force Family Liaison Coordinator (FLC), supporting the welfare, development and deployment of Family Liaison Officers (FLOs)

  • Led high-performing teams in high-risk, trauma-exposed environments

These roles gave me first-hand experience of leadership under extreme pressure and a deep understanding of the effects of trauma and stress — not only on victims and families but also for the professionals working tirelessly to support them.

Living the Cost of Chronic Stress

I thrived in high-stakes, fast-paced environments where quick, effective decision-making and strong leadership were critical. Outside of work I was also supporting loved ones with complex needs. For years, I relied on cognitive tools and my love of running to stay resilient. A series of professional and personal events tipped the balance. Over time chronic stress and unresolved trauma took their toll, and what once worked, no longer did.

I experienced:

  • Persistent fatigue, self-doubt, and guilt

  • A sense of failing at work, at home and in caring for those I loved

  • Withdrawal from friends and colleagues and the activities I once enjoyed.

My resilience began to crumble. This was my turning point — I realised that I needed something deeper. Something that went beyond mindset alone.

A Journey into Healing and Resilience

Desperate to break the cycle I turned to breathwork, mindfulness, and cold-water immersion — practices that transformed my wellbeing and opened the door to deeper healing.

Driven to understand why these practices worked, I immersed myself in studying:

  • Polyvagal Theory and the nervous system

  • Somatic coaching and embodied trauma recovery

  • Practical, evidence-based approaches to building resilience and regulation

I've experience firsthand the profound, life-changing impact of trauma-informed practices that honour the deep connection between mind and body, and the power of learning to understand and regulate the nervous system. Strong Horizons was born from this transformation — from the belief that resilience isn't about pushing through, but learning to come back to yourself.

My Mission Today

Today, I bring together:

  • 28 years of leadership experience in trauma-exposed environments

  • Cutting-edge training in somatic coaching, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed practice

  • Compassion and lived experience, and a deep understanding of stress and trauma

My mission is to help professionals, caregivers, and organisations break cycles of stress and burnout, develop resilience, and thrive — creating a ripple effect of wellbeing that extends into families, teams, and communities.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Struggling with stress, anxiety, or trauma and not sure what kind of help you need ?

Read our guide on counselling, therapy, and coaching

Sally MacDonald standing outdoors by a lake and trees, portrait
Strong Horizons - mental health and wellbeing support in Carlisle
Trauma-informed coach offering a calm, safe space to support mental health and resilience

My Qualifications, Training & Continuous Professional Development

At Strong Horizons, our work is grounded in evidence-based methods and a commitment to lifelong learning. I integrate psychology, trauma-informed coaching, somatic practices and leadership expertise to offer a unique, deeply informed holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing consultancy.

Qualifications & Credentials

  • BSc (Hons Psychology)

  • MSC (Distinction) Critical & Major Incident Psychology

  • Certified Trauma Informed Coach

  • ICF & CPD Accredited Somatic Trauma Informed Coaching Certification

  • AC & NHS PCI Accredited Health and Wellbeing Coaching Certification

  • Primary Certificate in Rationale Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)

  • Safe and Sound (SSP) Practitioner

  • Level 3 Certificate Applied Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery

  • Diploma in Stress Consultancy

  • Level 1 & 2 Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - (currently completing practitioner certification)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed

  • Level 5 Certificate in Police Management

  • Currently studying: Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 7 in Somatic Trauma-Informed Coaching and Leadership

Professional Experience & Areas of Impact

  • 28 years policing, leading high-performing teams through high-risk, trauma-exposed environments

  • Specialist leadership in major investigations (child exploitation, domestic abuse, modern slavery, homicide) and high-risk intelligence (firearms and threats to life)

  • Nationally accredited Hostage & Suicide Negotiator

  • Strategic experience in staff welfare, resilience training, and family liaison officer (FLO) development

  • Founding Brand Partner with The Mental Wellbeing Company

  • Passionate about embedding trauma-informed principals across schools, workplaces, and community

Certifications in Progress

  • Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 7 in Somatic Trauma-Informed Coaching and Leadership

  • Mindfulness Meditation Teaching (IMMA & CPD accredited)

  • Hypnotherapy (American Board of Hypnotherapy) & Somatic Hypno-Spotting

  • Breath Coaching (Yoga Alliance)

  • Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner (EFTMRA)

Ongoing CPD & Masterclasses

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Integration

  • Attachment Focused Bi Lateral Stimulation

  • Polyvagal Theory & Neurophysiology

  • Attachment & Trauma Neurobiology

  • Somatic tools for nervous system regulation

  • Trauma-Informed Coaching for ADHD

Global Engagement

I regularly participate in international international summits such as:

  • Rewiring Fear & Anxiety 2025

  • Somatic Trauma Healing Summit 2025

  • Polyvagal Practice Summit, Somatic & Sound based Therapies for Nervous System Regulation 2025

  • Transforming Trauma and Rewiring Your Brain 2024

These experience ensure my work remains innovative, evidence-based, and globally informed.