About me
About Me
Hi, I'm Claire, a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I work with individuals and couples in person from my practice in Chiswick, West London, and online.
People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted. Perhaps you're struggling in a relationship, navigating a significant change or loss, living with ADHD or another form of neurodiversity, or finding yourself caught in patterns that you understand intellectually but still seem difficult to change.
Sometimes there isn't an obvious explanation at all. You may simply have a sense that something isn't quite right, or that life has become harder than it needs to be.
Whatever brings you to therapy, you don't need to have everything worked out before you begin. Therapy gives us the opportunity to slow things down and make sense of what is happening - not only the difficulties you're experiencing now, but what may be contributing to them.
I offer a warm, thoughtful and collaborative space where you can speak openly, explore what matters to you and develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the way you relate to others.
How I Work
There isn't one way to do therapy, just as there isn't one way to understand a person. I work collaboratively, drawing on different therapeutic perspectives to help us make sense of what is happening for you and what may be helpful.
My approach is pluralistic, so our work isn't limited to one particular therapeutic model. Instead, it is shaped around you - your experiences, needs, preferences and what you hope to gain from therapy.
Relationships sit at the heart of much of my work, whether I'm working with individuals or couples. The ways we seek closeness, protect ourselves, withdraw, pursue, accommodate or avoid don't appear from nowhere. Often, they're adaptations we've developed over time. Understanding where these patterns come from can give us more choice about whether we want to keep repeating them.
Some sessions may be more reflective and exploratory, giving us space to stay with something more deeply or consider it from a different perspective. At other times, you may want something more focused and practical as we think together about a particular difficulty or changes you would like to make.
I am actively engaged in the therapeutic process - listening carefully, asking questions and sharing observations where they may be helpful. I won't tell you what you should do, but neither will you be expected to fill long silences while I simply listen.
There is no predetermined route through therapy. We can regularly reflect on our work together and make sure it continues to feel relevant and useful to you.
Couples Therapy
Relationships can be one of the greatest sources of connection in our lives, but they can also become places where we feel misunderstood, unheard, rejected or emotionally disconnected.
Couples often arrive in therapy saying that they need to communicate better. Communication may certainly be part of the difficulty, but recurring conflict is rarely only about finding the right words.
Often, beneath disagreements are different emotional needs, expectations, vulnerabilities and ways of protecting ourselves when we feel hurt, criticised or misunderstood. Couples can find themselves having versions of the same argument again and again, even when the subject appears to change.
Rather than focusing simply on who said what or who was right, I help couples slow these interactions down and understand what is happening between them. We can explore each partner's experience, the patterns within the relationship and what may be happening underneath moments of conflict or disconnection.
My couples work is active and relational. Couples therapy isn't about taking sides or deciding who is to blame. My role is to work with both of you, while also being willing to notice and explore the dynamics that may be keeping you stuck.
Whether you want to reconnect, navigate a difficult period, understand recurring conflict or consider what comes next, therapy offers an opportunity to understand both one another and the relationship differently.
Areas I Work With
I work with adults experiencing a broad range of difficulties, including:
Anxiety, panic and social anxiety
ADHD, autism and neurodiversity - diagnosed or exploring
Burnout and workplace stress
Depression and persistent low mood
Low self-esteem, perfectionism and self-criticism
Relationship and family difficulties
Attachment difficulties and emotional neglect
Trauma and difficult past experiences
Grief, bereavement and loss
Disordered eating and body image
Addiction and recovery
Boarding school experiences
Identity, life transitions and personal development
If what you're experiencing isn't listed here, please don't let that put you off. People rarely fit neatly into categories, and therapy isn't about reducing someone to a diagnosis or label. We can begin with what is happening for you and explore it together.
Beginning Therapy
Starting therapy can feel like a significant step, particularly if you've become used to coping with things on your own.
You don't need to know exactly what you want to talk about or where to begin. Part of our work can be understanding that together.
I offer a complimentary 20-minute online consultation before we begin. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you to therapy, ask questions and get a sense of how I work. It also gives both of us an opportunity to consider whether working together feels like a good fit.
My Background
Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years working in both corporate environments and the health and well-being sector. This gave me first-hand experience of demanding professional environments, workplace relationships, performance pressures and the often complicated task of balancing work with the rest of life.
In 2008, my career moved into health and wellbeing, where I spent many years working closely with people around change, motivation and confidence. Over time, I became increasingly interested in what sits beneath behaviour - our emotions, relationships, experiences and the ways we learn to understand and protect ourselves.
That curiosity eventually led me to train as a counsellor and psychotherapist.
My previous career continues to inform my therapeutic work, particularly with clients experiencing burnout, perfectionism, ADHD, changing identity, relationship difficulties or the pressure to appear as though they're coping when internally things feel very different.
I remain committed to developing my practice through clinical supervision, personal therapy and ongoing professional development.
Training, Qualifications & Experience
Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
First-Class Honours Degree in Pluralistic Person-Centred Counselling (Advanced Practitioner), Middlesex University
Diploma in Pluralistic Person-Centred Counselling (Advanced Practitioner), Metanoia Institute
Advanced Post-Diploma Certificate in Couples Therapy
Alongside my core qualifications, I undertake further specialist training to deepen and develop my practice.
My couples work is informed by Relational Life Therapy (RLT), an active relational approach to couples therapy that explores recurring patterns, conflict, intimacy and connection within relationships.
I am also undertaking the Introductory Lectures in Psychoanalysis programme with the Institute of Psychoanalysis, further developing my understanding of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches and how earlier experiences, relationships and less conscious patterns can influence our lives in the present.
I continue to undertake professional development in areas including ADHD and neurodiversity, attachment, trauma-informed practice, bereavement and loss, addiction, disordered eating, boarding school experiences, self-criticism and relationship dynamics.
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 - £110.00
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
£110 per 50-minute session*
I am available for appointments Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
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.
Are the sessions confidential?
As a Member of the BACP, I abide by 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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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..."
