About me
Hello, I’m Claire. I specialise in helping people to understand and process the difficult feelings and emotions that can make day-to-day life feel like a struggle. If you’re feeling like you keep pushing through but don’t ever get to a point where things feel better, then I can help you.
I have successfully supported many people living with anxiety and depression. I can help you to find a way through the deeply challenging times and periods of emotional distress and uncertainty. Together, we will find a way to make sense of what you’re going through, try to understand why this happens to you and find your way forward into a future that is happier and more fulfilling.
I also specialise in supporting carers as they process the challenges this role can bring. As a carer myself, I understand how demanding and emotionally complex caring for someone can feel. I can help you to work through what feels difficult, process the range of feelings that are hard to express, and work towards feeling more able to cope.
Another area of my work involves supporting people who have been rejected, mistreated, or abused. I will offer you a safe and compassionate space where you can gently process what has happened to you and find a way to heal the pain you carry. I will help you find a way to feel more in control, rebuild your confidence, and begin to reconnect with your sense of self-worth.
How I can help
I will support you to understand and soothe the difficult emotions by exploring what feels unfair, heavy, or unclear. As we work together, we can begin to recognise the patterns that shape your thoughts, feelings, and relationships, and gently uncover what may be behind them. This can help you feel more connected to yourself, who you are and why you do things the way you do. When we understand ourselves better we can work out what we want to change and how we can do that. I believe that working in this way will lead to increase your self-awareness, identify your true purpose in life, and raise your confidence. We will work at a pace that feels right for you and one that offers you the support and care you deserve.
What to expect from my therapy sessions
Our therapy sessions will take place on the same day and at the same time each week. We will agree the day and time that works for both of us and decide if you want to work online or in-person. The number of sessions you decide to have will be entirely your choice.
I will offer you a safe, confidential space where you can share whatever feels heavy. You can talk about your experiences openly, express your feelings in your own way, and be fully accepted as you are. I do not follow a fixed plan in therapy. Instead, I work flexibly, adapting to how you experience the space and where your thoughts naturally lead. You don’t need to have the right words to express yourself or have a clear goal or direction you want to follow. All you need is a willingness to show up, just as you are. Together, we can start to work it out.
I believe therapy can be a journey of profound personal learning and self-discovery that will raise your confidence and self-esteem to be the best you. I have experienced my own journey of change and personal growth, and this is why I am endlessly passionate about supporting others at a time of distress. Usually, after the first few sessions, people I work with tell me that they feel noticeably lighter and feel a sense of relief that is very much welcomed.
My theoretical approach
My person-centred approach means that our work together will be led by you. I will not tell you what to do or decide what is best for you. Instead, I will offer a warm, accepting, and non-judgemental space where we can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. I will offer a gentle curiosity to encourage you to notice and challenge how your thinking may have formed unhelpful patterns in your behaviours with a focus on changing what is holding you back or keeping you stuck.
As a person-centred counsellor, it is my sincere belief that when you feel truly heard, understood, and accepted, you can begin to understand yourself more deeply, trust your own inner resources, and move towards the changes that feel right for you.
What are the next steps?
Taking this first step to find a counsellor can feel daunting but should also be seen as a sign of strength because you’re making a decision to take back control of your life. If you would like to start therapy with me, please reach out and give me a call on 07304 359518 or you can email me at claireatkins.therapist@gmail.com. You can also contact me through my website at www.claireatkinscounselling.com. I offer a free 20-minute telephone consultation where we can have a chat and get a sense of how it might feel to work together. You can ask me any questions you may have about therapy and how I work and how we might work together.
Training, qualifications & experience
Alongside my private practice, I also work with the mental health charity Mind providing talking therapies to people accessing NHS services.
I have the following qualifications.
- Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Counselling (Middlesex University)
- Foundation Degree in Arts in Counselling (Middlesex University)
- Diploma in Counselling (BACP Accredited)
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CPCAB)
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CPCAB)
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Online sessions are priced at £60
In-person sessions are priced at £75
All sessions are usually 50-minutes long. If you would like to discuss the options of longer or shorter sessions, we can discuss this during our first contact. Sessions are usually scheduled to take place on a weekly basis; however, we can also discuss if less frequent sessions would be preferred.
When I work
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Further information
Thank you for taking the time to read about me and how I work. I hope that my profile information has offered you an insight of what I can offer. If there’s anything else you would like to know about me, please reach out for a chat. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
