Claire Arnold-Baker
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Hello I am Claire, an experienced existential therapist, supervisor and trainer working online. I specialise in working with mothers who are experiencing difficulties or struggles after the birth of their baby, such as postnatal depression or anxiety, birth trauma or parenting issues. I also work with women or mothers during pregnancy, or who are having fertility problems, or who have suffered a miscarriage or still birth. I also help women talk through issues around conception, motherhood identity and balancing mothering and working.
As an existential therapist I understand how motherhood is a vulnerable time in a women’s life. It is a life changing experience which can affect every area of your life; from your body, your relationships, your sense of identity, thoughts and feelings and also your sense of purpose and how you create meaning in life. Women often feel like they are entering an unknown world when they become a mother. I aim to help you understand your experiences and to gain a new perspective. Often mothers feel that their expectations have been challenged as have their values and beliefs. Through the therapy you can get a better sense of how your life and your sense of yourself has changed, which can help you find new ways of coping with the challenges that you face. I offer a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space to allow you to explore what is troubling you and in doing so gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your life and other people. Through exploring and clarifying your experience and feelings, it is possible to find new meanings in life and new possibilities and choices can open up where none seemed possible before.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology, an MA in existential psychotherapy and counselling from the University of Sheffield and a DCPsych in counselling psychology and psychotherapy from Middlesex University. I am a Chartered counselling psychologist, registered with HCPC and a UKCP registered existential psychotherapist and supervisor and clinical member of the universities psychotherapy and counselling association (UPCA) and abide by these codes of ethics and practice.
I have over 20 years experience working in private practice as well as a wide range of experience of different settings such as a GP surgery, MIND, an adult education college and an international university. I completed my doctoral research into the experience of first-time mothers and have also written on this topic.
I have also taught a number of short courses and workshops on existential therapy to different academic institutions and I am Course leader for the DCPsych programme at NSPC and Middlesex University, where I am also the Principal.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I specialise in working with mothers who need support for perinatal or postnatal depression or anxiety, birth trauma or parenting issues. I also support women who have experienced loss through miscarriage and still birth or through infertility. I also support mothers who are adjusting to becoming a mother and who would like to explore their experience, in terms of their identity, feelings and emotions.
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
When I work
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I am currently available on Thursdays via zoom
