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
Do you suffer from low moods? Do you have feelings of being stuck? Perhaps you’ve experienced a change in your life where you’re finding difficult to move on. Maybe you feel it difficult to express yourself, or you feel like you’re wearing a mask to fit in. Whether you need to re-find your resilience, grow your self-awareness or simply find support to get where you want to be, often it’s easier to speak to someone outside your friends and family, in a space that allows you to get to the heart of the issues preventing you from moving forward.
I work with clients living with low self-esteem, depression, loss and anxiety, recognising that change underpins many of life’s difficulties. Through offering curiosity, non-judgement and compassion, I will help you offer the same to yourself in order to move forward.
I offer a free 15-minute in-person, phone or Zoom call for an initial conversation to answer any questions you might have and what to expect. So much of counselling is finding the person and the approach that works for you, so this conversation will give you an idea of whether you want to go ahead.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified integrative therapist with a PgDip at the University of Central Lancashire. I am a Registered Member of the BACP (MBACP) and regularly undergo additional CPD training in accordance with the BACP's ethical principles for safe practice.
My counselling experience is in working with people to adjust to large and impactful changes in their lives. I have also worked with those with life-limiting illnesses and their carers to process difficult life events and changes in their relationships with loved ones. Due to my background, I also work with professionals who may be struggling with the huge impact that work has on their lives, including negative stressors, difficult working relationships, career transitions and their sense of identity, as well as how a demanding work environment can compromise personal wellbeing and healthy boundaries.
Recently I have undertaken training in working with relational trauma responses and experiencing change from an existential perspective.
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 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Sessions are one hour and are charged at £60. I offer reduced cost sessions for students and those on Universal Credit or low income.
When I work
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My clients often work during the week so I have availability for face-to-face therapy in Didsbury on Saturdays, 9am-6pm. Alternatively I offer online sessions on weekday evenings, 6pm-9pm.
Further information
What to expect in the first session
I offer a free 15-minute phone or Google Meet call for an initial conversation. So much of counselling is finding the person and the approach that works for you, so this conversation will give you an idea of whether you want to go ahead with sessions. I will talk a little about what you can expect from me and our time together. This is so you can take this information away with you and make a decision in your own time about whether my approach will work for you. Equally, I will be honest if I’m the right person for you or not – it’s important we both feel we can work together.
Similarly, the first session is getting to know each other, answering any questions you might have and communicating any worries you might have. Opening up to a stranger right away can be difficult, which is why the first session will explore what brings you to therapy at a pace that feels comfortable to you. We will also talk about creating a confidential and safe environment, review a simple counselling contract and fill in some background information. We will then start our journey together.
I understand first-hand how intimidating therapy can be. We will work together to find a pace and way of working that feels right to you. My approach is a balance of support and challenge, so you both feel safe to explore while also supported to push your comfort zone and make meaningful progress.
If you need any more information, visit my website where you can learn more about how we could work together: https://www.clairebower.co.uk
