Claire West
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
About me
Are you frustrated by a world that confuses you? Do you feel you are not accepted for who you are? Are you finding work stressful? Or is overwhelm and anxiety taking over your life?
Counselling can help you feel more at home in the world as you become happy to be who you are and have the tools to manage your emotions. You can step into your future as a human with potential. Having the space to discuss things you wouldn’t talk to anyone else about can help you see your options, give you agency and feel alive.
I have over twenty years of experience as a teacher, including training the next generation of counsellors. I strongly believe that everyone has the potential for change – even if they don’t see it themselves. I also understand the demands of the teaching profession and am keen to support teachers and support staff to manage stress. This work has included developing self-care workshops for educational establishments.
My personal life includes experience of those who are neurodivergent and queer which has shown me the impact that being accepted and valued for who you are can have on those who feel the world is an alien or threatening place.
I embrace creative techniques in my work having seen how it can connect to everyone – especially those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.
Finally, my own experience of therapy means I understand just how transformative it can be.
What happens next?
After your enquiry I will email you to arrange an initial assessment session in my therapy room in St Ives to see if we will work well together and for you to ask any questions. It’s important that you feel comfortable talking to me and this gives you a feel for how I work.
After this, if we feel we will work well together and if you are ready, we make an appointment for you to attend further sessions.
In our first session there is space for you to tell me about your needs and concerns and for you to ask any questions you may have. I’ll ask a few questions about what you are hoping to achieve from counselling and about you and your goals.
In the first couple of sessions we will be getting to know each other, giving you the time to feel safe and comfortable with me.
Usually, we would meet weekly until our relationship is established but you are free to decide the frequency of our sessions. We would also have a discussion about how many sessions you feel you would like - this would be reviewed regularly as we work together.
Our work is guided by you. You are the expert on yourself and my role is to help you find what you need within you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- L4 Diploma in Integrative Therapeutic Counselling
- Post-qualifying certificate in Creative Arts Therapy (accredited by PTUK)
- Advanced Certificate in Understanding and Applying Parts Theories
- Working with Shame - Carolyn Spring CPD
- Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self-Harm - Carolyn Spring CPD
- Registered member of BACP
- BEd Hons (primary)
- Enhanced DBS for both child and adult workforce
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
Teacher stress and burnout.
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
