AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Anxiety, Depression, Menopause, Childhood Trauma, Adulthood Trauma, Domestic Violence, Grief & Loss, Low Self-Esteem, Overwhelm, Burnout, Abandonment Issues, Attachment Issues, Relationship Difficulties, Family Issues, Pregnancy Related Issues, Children Related Issues, Anger Management, Exploring Identity, Intrusive Thoughts, Hoarding, Aging, Bereavement, Work/Career Issues, Perfectionism, Social Anxiety, Generational Trauma.
ABOUT ME
Hello, my name is Claire.
When I first sought therapy many years ago, I felt hugely overwhelmed with the long lists of counsellors, and bombarded with phrases and jargon which made no sense to me. All I wanted was a counsellor who was approachable, kind and would listen to me without interruption or judgement. Now I am a counsellor and have a better understanding of all of these terms and phrases, but I have never forgotten those key attributes I was looking for, and I try to uphold them in every client session.
I firmly believe that we are all experts on ourselves. Therefore, my role as a counsellor is not to give you advice or tell you what to do. I am there to listen as a non-judgmental professional who may ask questions to help you make sense of your issues and to work out why you do things in a certain way. By doing this it can help to improve your mental health and work towards positive therapeutic change in your life.
MY EXPERIENCE
I have a Level 4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling from The Mindspace Foundation.
I have experience of working with adult clients face to face at Sandhurst Counselling Service. Here I supported people with a wide range of presenting issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, attachment issues, identity, overwhelm and burnout.
I also work at The Female Health Clinic in Hampshire as the clinic counsellor where I see clients both face to face and online. Many of them are women going through menopause and I am able to support their mental health during this huge life change. However, I see both men and women of all ages at the clinic.
MY APPROACH
I believe that a close working relationship between a counsellor and client is the most important factor in enabling therapeutic change to take place. I understand that this may not develop quickly and for some people it may take many sessions before they can fully trust their counsellor and feel able to speak freely and honestly. This is normal and I will work at your pace, not mine.
I am integratively trained which means that I may use different therapeutic approaches depending on what feels right for each client and their presenting issues. It definitely isn’t “one size fits all” as everyone is different and what one client may respond well to might not work for another. We can work together to get to know one another and decide what is most useful for you.
As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I work within an ethical framework and adhere to best practices to make sure that every client is supported during their counselling sessions.
MY QUALIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Level 4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling from The Mindspace Foundation
BACP Registered Member (MBACP)