About me
Hello – my name is Claire and I am a qualified, experienced counsellor working with adults on a wide range of life and mental health challenges.
You may have found yourself here because you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed by recent challenging life events, or situations from the past that have re-surfaced and need processing. Maybe you are feeling lost and hopeless, not quite sure who you are anymore or who you want to be. Or perhaps you want to navigate complicated relationships and develop the self-confidence to bring about change. Each of these problems can be difficult to cope with and can affect your quality of life and emotional wellbeing; it can feel very lonely trying to carry all this by yourself.
I know that asking for help can be very daunting; but reaching this website is an important first step. Counselling can offer something very different to talking with friends and family, so let me tell you a bit about me and how we could work together.
Counselling with me:
Counselling offers a uniquely safe space to be curious and learn about yourself; the most growth I see in clients is through this increased self-awareness. Gaining a new perspective can bring about inner peace and acceptance, or even fuel the motivation needed to bring about change in your life.
Our relationship will be central to the work that we do together; if we can build trust then we can explore most issues at a pace to suit you. As a counsellor, I provide a warm, compassionate and client-centred approach to therapy. This means that I am guided by what you would like to explore. I will offer you a confidential space where you can hopefully learn to feel safe to work through any issues; I won't judge or make assumptions about you.
With your agreement, I will gently challenge where I think it is needed to get you past any blocks or 'stuckness'. I can also provide psycho-education and strategies/tools to try, whenever we think this might be helpful. Together we can work through what you feel is best for you, so that you can reach a place where you feel capable of better supporting yourself.
Who am I?
I am a counsellor and a researcher in psychology, combining my therapy practice with a career in mental health research (particularly ADHD and PTSD/trauma). I was also a Samaritans Listener for many years, during which time I learned how to hold a calm, confidential space for people in their darkest times. In my counselling practice I work in-person with adults in central Bromley, on the SE London/Kent border. I also work online with people from all over the UK. Feedback from my clients is that I provide a calm space where they feel heard, validated and supported to view things from a different perspective.
What next?
I hope that this has given you a taste of how we might work together. Please feel free to contact me to arrange an initial discussion (up to 30 minutes, free of charge) – this is a chance for us to work out if counselling is right for you.
If I am unable to answer my phone, please leave me a message. My email and answer service are confidential, and I will try to get back to you within 48 hours (Mon-Fri).
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and hold graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). I hold the following relevant qualifications:
- CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Skills
- CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- Fully trained Samaritans Listener with 7 years’ experience
- Graduate Certificate in Psychology, UCL
- MSc in Child Development, UCL
I engage in regular training and CPD activities to develop my counselling knowledge and skills and enhance my work with clients. Recent relevant training includes:
- Attachment
- Working with Trauma
- The Shame Monster
- Childhood anxiety problems: Helping parents to help their children
- The role of sleep in adolescent mental health
- Integrating artwork into your counselling
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
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free half-hour phone conversation for us both to see if working together feels appropriate. Please remember that you are under no obligation to continue.
If we decide to work together, then counselling sessions are 50 minutes long and held on the same day & at the same time each week. My fees are:
£65.00 - Individual Counselling (18+)
Please enquire if you require a concessionary rate.
When I work
Please contact me about my availability, as it does change.
Further information
I currently work as a counsellor in person in the Bromley area of SE London. I also work online with clients across the UK.
