Claire Woodward
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a qualified and experienced MBACP counsellor and psychotherapist in Chiswick with a first-class honours degree in pluralistic person-centred counselling and psychotherapy. I also have addition specialist training in couples therapy.
I run my own private practice and work with individuals and couples navigating a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, bereavement, family difficulties, and relationship issues. You may also be exploring neurodiversity, such as autism or ADHD/ADD, or simply feeling stuck in aspects of your life. Whatever has brought you here, I offer a non-judgmental space where you can explore your experiences and develop a clearer understanding of yourself.
My approach is pluralistic, which means I shape the therapy around what works best for you, recognising that different people need different things at different times. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling with relationships, or facing past experiences that still affect you, I offer a supportive and professional space to explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.
Some clients seek support for a specific difficulty, while others want to gain deeper insight into themselves and their relationships. My role is to provide a space where you can feel heard, respected, and understood. Together, we will reflect on what feels important to you, helping you gain clarity, self-awareness, and a greater sense of stability.
Through our work, you may begin to notice changes such as:
Feeling more confident and grounded in yourself
Stronger, more fulfilling relationships
A clearer understanding of anxiety and its impact
A greater sense of possibility and openness to the future
A more compassionate relationship with yourself
Everyone’s experience of therapy is different, and there’s no right or wrong way to approach it. My focus is on creating a space where you feel supported in making sense of your experiences in a way that feels meaningful to you.
Areas I can help with include:
- Abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual)
- ADHD/ADD and neurodiversity (including late diagnosis and self-exploration)
- Anxiety (including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks)
- Bereavement and loss
- Depression and low mood
- Family issues and childhood experiences
- Identity and self-esteem
- Life transitions and personal development
- Relationship difficulties (romantic, family, friendships)
- Stress and burnout
- Trauma (including PTSD and complex trauma)
I also have a particular interest in ADHD/ADD. Whether you received a diagnosis in childhood or later in life or are exploring whether neurodiversity may be part of your experience, therapy can offer space to develop a clearer understanding of how it affects you.
Starting therapy can feel like a big decision, and it’s natural to feel unsure. To help, I offer a complimentary 20-minute online or phone session. This gives us a chance to explore what brings you to therapy and whether my approach feels right for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
First-class honours degree in Pluralistic Person-Centred Counselling (Advanced Practitioner), Middlesex University.
Diploma in Pluralistic Person-Centred Counselling (Advanced Practitioner), The Metanoia Institute.
Advanced Post-Diploma Certificate in Couples Therapy.
In addition, I am committed to ongoing professional and personal development, regularly engaging in further training to enhance my ability to support clients effectively. This has included specialist training in neurodiversity (including ADHD), bereavement and loss, addiction, attachment theory, boarding school syndrome, trauma-related stress, disordered eating, and working with the inner critic, among other areas that deepen and enrich my practice.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the corporate sector, gaining insight into the pressures of business life. In 2008, I transitioned into the health and wellness field, where I developed a deep passion for helping others reach their potential. This ultimately led me to train as a counsellor and psychotherapist, a path that has allowed me to support individuals and couples in navigating life’s challenges with greater clarity and self-understanding.
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
£80.00 per session
Free initial online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
PRICES
CONSULTATION - complimentary (20 minutes by Zoom/Call)
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
£80 per 50-minute session*
I am available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
COUPLES THERAPY
£95 per 50-minute session*
I am available for appointments Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
*I also offer sessions of 75 and 90 minutes. Price on request.
I understand that seeking therapy is a significant step, and it’s important that it feels right for you. Therefore, to make that first step more accessible, I offer a complimentary 20-minute initial consultation, either online or on the phone, with no expectation or obligation to continue.
In this first session, we’ll explore what’s brought you to therapy and what you’re currently experiencing. It’s also a chance for us to get to know each other and for you to see if my approach feels comfortable and supportive. You’re welcome to ask any questions, and we can discuss what you hope to gain from our work together.
As I believe therapy should be accessible to all, I offer some concession places (if they haven't already been taken) for students and those in financial difficulty.
Are the sessions confidential?
As a Member of the BACP, I offer confidential sessions per the BACP’s Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions: https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/
When I work
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Explore therapy sessions with me in a way that suits you best – whether online, in person at my practice in Chiswick (W4), or over the phone.
I’m available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Further information
I offer a compassionate, relational approach that deeply respects your autonomy and self-determination. Working within a pluralistic framework, I adapt our sessions to align with your goals, tailoring the process to meet your unique needs.
Together, we’ll explore your preferences, enabling us to shape an approach that fully supports your specific circumstances and needs.
Testimonials:
"...Working together with Claire helped me get through a challenging relationship. Our sessions helped me make sense of some of the complex feelings and patterns I was experiencing. Today, I have a greater understanding and acceptance of myself, which gives me the confidence to communicate what I need from my relationships..."
"...Therapy with Claire has shifted my perspective. Her candid and insightful approach cut through the confusion, helping me to understand and come to terms with my childhood experiences. I’m now stronger and can understand that I’m not to blame for the past…"
"...Since starting with Claire, I've found clarity and strength that has been transformative in both my personal and professional life..."
