COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY FOR CHANGE

about me

Hi, I’m Claire.

I am a qualified Chartered Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have completed seven years of formal training through an undergraduate degree, masters, and three year Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsych). I have experience working since 2012, qualifying in 2021, in NHS, third-sector, and private settings, supporting adults across the lifespan with a wide range of psychological difficulties, from anxiety and low mood, to severe and complex long-standing challenges.

My work is informed by a deep interest in human lived experience, culture and identity, in which it is important to understand that the difficulties people face, do not exist in isolation, but are shaped by our connections and the wider world around us. I believe that being attentive to the social and political world is necessary to understand the nuances of identity and belonging, and I am attentive to the ways in which life and people’s context can influence how we respond to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Clients often describe me as warm, thoughtful, non-judgmental, and authentic. My aim is to offer you a space where you can feel heard and understood, while gently noticing and exploring patterns in relationships and behaviour, that offer alternative ways of how you relate to yourself, others, and the external world. Therapy, I see as a collaborative process, in which sense making is an essential part of moving towards meaningful change, offering a place for curiosity, exploration, and support.

  • Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology - University of East London

    MSc Forensic Psychology - University of Gloucestershire

    BSc Forensic Psychology - Leeds Trinity University

    Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) Level 2 accreditation with Association for Psychological Therapies (APT)

    Reflective Practice with the Tavistock

    Intro to Attachment Therapy with the Bowlby Centre

    Intro to Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

How Counselling Psychology Can Help

I understand that seeking psychological therapy can feel daunting and overwhelming when there are so many options available. We can find ourselves feeling tired, scared, lost, lonely, confused, frustrated, and uncertain without having an understanding of where those feelings come from, and more importantly, how we can make sense of and manage them in a meaningful way. Counselling psychology aims to support you in your therapeutic journey, and I can offer a thoughtful space to explore your experiences, striving to create a therapeutic space that feels containing and safe, allowing for a better understanding of your story and the changes you hope to make.

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my services

I am an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist, offering a range of evidenced-based therapeutic approaches, to enable my clients to understand their lived experience and focus on supporting people to make changes to overcome their difficulties. Integrating different models over the course of our work together, means I am able to offer a bespoke treatment, in line with the changes you are seeking to make.

  • I offer one-to-one therapy for adults (18+) navigating challenges such as depression, anxiety, identity, relationships,  confidence and self-esteem, burnout, and the impact of past experiences. Therapy provides a space to explore and make sense of your narrative and begin to move towards meaningful change.

  • I offer clinical supervision for trainees and qualified therapists/psychologists. My supervision approach tends to focus on relational patterns as these are often the threads we weave through our client work. Supervision can be an agent for change and transformation by uncovering repetitions and enactments of different roles, exploring parallel process, and attending to, and being mindful of the dynamics of power, authority, cultural identity, and difference. Supervision sessions are one hour and are charged at my standard hourly rates of £130. Trainee supervision can be negotiated at a lower fee depending on your practice so please get in touch for further information. I am registered on the 'Supervisor Platform’ which can be found here https://app.supervisorplatform.com/profile?uid=KK5PqBRJfHSHH9g21ugGcVGTxKn1

  • I work as an expert witness associate for Midhurst Clinical Therapeutic Services (MCTS) offering clear, independent, evidence-based assessments and reports supporting local authorities, solicitors, and the courts in family, medicolegal and criminal proceedings. Please contact MCTS if you require this service. Further information can be located on the MCTS website https://mcts.org.uk/?people=claire

  • The Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) is the official record of all test users who have been awarded qualifications in educational, forensic or occupational test use by the British Psychological Society. I am registered on the Directory of Qualified Testers on the PTC website and offer personality assessment (e.g. the NEO) testing as part of my private practice. 

My approach

Client-Centred

Therapy is viewed as a collaborative process, where you are viewed as an expert in your own experience. Sessions are aimed at shaping therapy in a way that feels valuable, and a place that we can address what feels most important for you. I aim to develop with you, a space where you can feel heard and respected, allowing for the time to explore your experiences at your own pace.

Trauma-Informed

My approach to therapy is from a place of curiosity and sensitivity to what you may have been through in your life. Rather than trying to find out 'what’s wrong with you', I am interested in understanding 'what has happened to you', and how this may be having an impact on you now.

Integrative and Flexible

I am trained in several different therapeutic approaches and draw from a range of therapy frameworks, including psychodynamic, compassion-focused, cognitive-behavioural, systemic, and community focussed perspectives. This is an integrative approach to person-centred care that allows me to adapt the work to you, rather than expecting you to fit into a single model. Client’s come to therapy for different reasons, some with a specific focus, while others are looking for a longer-term space for deeper exploration, allowing us to think together about what makes sense for you.

areas i can help with

  • Anger

    Anxiety

    Burnout

    Depression

    Emotional Dysregulation

    Grief and Loss

    Panic Attacks

    Phobias

    Social Anxiety

    Trauma

  • Assertiveness Development

    Goal Setting

    Identity

    Lack of Purpose

    LGBTQ+ Affirming

    Life Transitions

    Neurodivergent Affirming

    Self-esteem

    Issues with Uncertainty

  • Attachment & Relationship Difficulties

    Family Issues

    Isolation and Belonging