About Me

Hi, I'm Claire, an experienced counsellor who can support you to work through a range of different issues such as; grief & loss, anxiety, relationship concerns, low self esteem, childhood trauma, perimenopause and menopause to name a few.

​

I previously worked with children in our local primary school as a teaching assistant - it was through this that I was given the opportunity to start my counselling training. I noticed over time that my passion to help people grew.  I made the decision to continue further with my counselling training and eventually stepped away from school life to focus purely on my career as a counsellor.

​

Once I had qualified and started to run my own private practice, I was very lucky to be given the opportunity of becoming a counselling tutor at the college where I completed my own training.  For three years, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching counselling skills and studies to adult learners at the very beginning of their counselling training path. I loved seeing them all grow and develop through their intense training and had a huge amount of pride for each and every one of them. I now really enjoy working with counselling students, supporting them as their counsellor whilst they work through their training and learning.

​

My counselling training was integrative which means that I work from a number of different counselling theories for a combined approach. My belief is that there is no one theory that can 'fit all clients' and their circumstances...one size doesn't fit all and your therapy needs to suit you. Your counselling may be short term, focusing on a specific issue or longer term, looking at more complex issues. 

​

Through life events, we can all at some point experience many different feelings and emotions.  Along with happy feelings, sometimes we can experience feeling anxious and depressed, angry, sad, lonely or fearful.  Sometimes, we may not even be sure of what we are feeling but that we just don't feel 'right'.  On occasion, this may leave us feeling that we're struggling to cope or feeling overwhelmed with things that are happening to us.  Maybe, we even start to notice that we dislike ourselves and our behaviour.  I offer a safe, comfortable and confidential space for you to explore these difficulties and how they are affecting you.

​

I strongly believe that the relationship between counsellor and client is the core of our work together and a strong working alliance enables you to explore your difficulties and how they are affecting you.  I am not here to advise or judge, but to work with an open mind, listen and support you. I am fascinated by how past life events and relationships affect us in our present day.  I will be interested to explore your history with you but to also focus on what is happening for you in the here and now.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

QUALIFICATIONS

• CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills

• CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

• CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

​

CPD

As a commitment to my ongoing learning and ethical practice I undertake regular training. Some of my more recent training has included:

• Working with Grief and Loss

• Working with Domestic Violence and Abuse

• Working with Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse

• Treating General Anxiety and Panic Disorders

• Understanding Lies, Shame and Guilt

• Accredited member for Infant Loss Foundation

​

​