About me
Feeling overwhelmed, stuck or like you’re just getting through the day without really living.
Does this sound familiar?
- You feel never quite "enough," no matter how much you achieve.
- You're in constant tension, waiting for something to go wrong.
- Even when life seems "fine," you're bracing for the worst.
- Loneliness lingers, even when you’re surrounded by others.
- You overthink everything, replaying conversations, doubting yourself.
- Past experiences still weigh on you, even when you try to move on.
- Life feels disconnected from meaning or joy.
- You struggle with self-worth, feeling like a burden, even though you’re not.
Maybe you’re doing your best to keep it all together on the outside, but inside, you’re emotionally drained, disconnected, or unsure of who you really are anymore.
You might catch yourself thinking, “Is it always going to feel like this? and wishing you could feel more at peace, more in control, and more like yourself.
It doesn't have to stay this way.
Hi, I’m Claire - an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist. Together, we can start to untangle what’s been weighing you down, at your pace, in a space where you’re met with compassion.
Therapy offers a space to slow down, be heard, and reconnect with yourself - so that life feels less overwhelming and more yours.
How Working With Me Can Support You:
- Take back control – Learn strategies to manage stress and burnout.
- Speak up for yourself – Communicate your needs with confidence.
- Learn to be kinder to yourself – Replace harsh self-talk with self-compassion.
- Reconnect with what truly matters – Shift from just getting through the day to living with purpose.
- Cope with change – Navigate transitions with strength and self-compassion.
- Discover what happiness means for you – And build a life that reflects it.
- Explore coping mechanisms that once helped you cope but may no longer serve you - so you can develop more effective ways to deal with life with more confidence.
Counselling for Chronic Illness & Long-Term Health Conditions.
Living with a long-term health condition isn’t just physical - it affects your emotions, relationships, and sense of self.
You may feel:
- Anxious about the uncertainty of living with a health condition.
- Guilt about not being able to “do it all".
- Grief for the life you imagined and once had.
- Overwhelmed by the constant demands of managing your health.
Living with a long-term health condition can bring daily uncertainty, exhaustion, and feelings of isolation. As a therapist specialising in chronic illness, I offer a compassionate space to explore the emotional impact - whether it's navigating overwhelm, adjusting to limitations, or processing grief for the life you imagined.
Together, we’ll build resilience, look at healthy ways to cope with the demand of living with chronic illness and help you reconnect with yourself beyond your diagnosis.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Next steps:
Book a free 30 minute introductory online video/call or send me an email today - let’s explore how therapy can help you navigate challenges, build resilience, and create a life that feels more fulfilling.
Client Testimonials:
A Supportive and Professional Space
"I very much enjoyed working with Claire. She was calm, compassionate and created a relaxing space. She is knowledgeable at what she does and handles everything with professionalism.
Through working with Claire, I have developed a clearer understanding of myself and have developed a toolkit of strategies to move forward. She is fab! Overall wellbeing and attitudes towards my self and health has greatly improved" - I.S.
A Healing Journey
"I have recently finished my therapy with Claire and I couldn’t be more grateful. From the start, she created a warm, supportive and non judgmental environment where I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts and emotions.
She provided a lot of guidance to help me navigate very difficult moments. Every session left me feeling more at peace and better about myself.
Claire’s support has been invaluable in my journey of healing and finding new way in life. I can highly recommend working with her".
A Balance of Warmth and Expertise
"I found working with Claire a great experience. She is professional yet warm and very knowledgeable. I felt comfortable in her presence and created a safe space for difficult conversations. I also found her appropriate use of humour to be reassuring that she is human.
I have been able to enjoy life a bit more and have been given tools to handle my illness and self with more compassion" -G.C.
Gaining Clarity and Emotional Strength
"Your approach is both pragmatic and insightful—you knew when to ask the right questions, when to challenge my thinking in a constructive way, and when to hold space.
I feel more in control of my anxiety and emotions, and I’m able to handle stress and difficult situations with much greater calm and clarity. I’ve become more self-aware of the present, and have made an effort to take things a day at a time rather than pre-planning every element life".
I offer sessions:
Tuesdays: Online (late morning) and face-to-face (afternoon and early evening) in Stokes Croft - BS2.
Wednesdays: Online (late morning) and face-to-face (afternoon and early evening) in Cotham Hill - BS6.
Training, qualifications & experience
My journey in mental health began over seven years ago, starting with my counselling and psychotherapy training and evolving through diverse professional roles that have shaped my expertise.
Since qualifying as a psychotherapist in 2022, I have deepened my practice by working across various settings, supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and the emotional impact of long-term health conditions.
My Approach
Clients describe my approach as warm, supportive, and grounded in both professionalism and deep empathy. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you feel heard, valued, and empowered to explore your experiences. My work blends insight with practical guidance, helping you navigate difficult moments, gain clarity, and develop meaningful strategies for lasting change.
Through therapy, many clients have found a greater understanding of themselves, built emotional resilience, and strengthened their ability to manage life’s challenges with confidence and self-compassion.
Whether you’re seeking a space to reflect, process emotions, or discover new ways forward, I am here to support you with knowledge, care, and the right balance of warmth and expertise.
My qualifications are listed below:
- University of South Wales - Masters in Integrative counselling and psychotherapy (2024).
- University of South Wales - Postgraduate diploma in Integrative counselling and psychotherapy (2021-2022).
- University of South Wales - L6 Certificate in Integrative Counselling skills (2020).
- City Of Bristol College - L3 Certificate in Counselling (2019) & Level 3 Certificate in Counselling (2018).
- UNISA - HONS Degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology – University of South Africa (2010).
- UNISA - Bachelor of Arts – Psychology – University of South Africa (2005).
Training and Professional Experience:
University of South Wales Therapy & Therapeutic Counselling Services (TCS)
Working within a short-term framework has strengthened my ability to approach therapy with focus and collaboration, helping clients make meaningful progress within a structured time frame.
Through online and telephone sessions, I’ve developed an accessible and adaptable approach, ensuring support is available in a way that fits individual needs.
This experience reinforced the importance of setting clear goals, regularly reflecting on progress, and adjusting focus as needed to ensure therapy remains safe, effective, and responsive.
I bring this same approach to my work today, creating a space where clients feel supported, understood, and empowered in their journey toward emotional resilience.
Specialist Mental Health Mentor
Working as a Mental Health Mentor has given me valuable insight into the unique challenges students face.
I’ve seen first-hand how anxiety and depression can deeply affect students' wellbeing.
Students frequently struggle to manage their time effectively while juggling academic, personal, and social pressures.
On top of this, they may deal with homesickness, relationship difficulties, and conflicts with roommates, all of which can contribute to a sense of overwhelm and make it harder to focus on their overall wellbeing.
This experience has deepened my understanding of the emotional and psychological challenges students encounter and has enhanced my ability to offer meaningful support.
Why I do this work
Living with a chronic health condition has shown me how deeply it can impact mental wellbeing, bringing frustration, uncertainty, and a sense of loss.
Counselling helped me see the value in acknowledging those feelings rather than resisting them, allowing me to foster self-compassion and emotional resilience.
That experience shapes my approach as a therapist. I believe growth isn’t just about “getting better,” but about meeting life’s challenges with greater kindness, understanding, and confidence.
No one should have to face these struggles alone, and with the right support, it’s possible to build emotional strength, clarity, and purpose, even in difficult times.
Ready to take the first step? Book a free 15-minute call or send me an email today - let’s explore how therapy can support you in feeling more empowered, and in control.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I also work with university students facing the stress of academic and social pressures, helping you build resilience, set boundaries, and find balance, so that university feels like a place of growth rather than constant pressure.
You might be:
- Feeling homesick, lonely, disconnected and struggle to make friends.
- Dreading deadlines or struggling with perfectionism.
- Unsure who you are or what you really want.
- Struggling with the transition to independent living.
- Caught in difficult relationships or life transitions.
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 per session
Additional information
I offer an initial free of charge 15-minute telephone/online consultation for you to introduce yourself and talk about the reasons you’ve come to therapy. If you then decide that you’d like to work with me, I can offer flexibility with short-term or longer-term work.
When I work
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I offer in-person and online sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please feel free to contact me to chat about your availability.
