Clare Watson

Summary:

• Talking Therapy (Integrative/Person-Centred/Trauma-Informed perspective) in a relaxed/informal environment that can include cats/tortoises, fidget toys, art/drawing/any creative hobby or passion you have
• Online Sessions via Google Meet/WhatsApp Video for anyone living in the UK | In Person Sessions from my home office in Prescot for those in my local and surrounding areas | A mix of both
• Free 30 minute Introductory chat via Whatsapp/Google Meet
  Standard Fees: £50 per 1 hour | £75 per 1.5 hours on a pay as you go basis 
  Concessionary Fees for low income/unemployed: £40 per hour (limited spaces)
• Block booking offer of 4 x 1 hour sessions for £180 or 4 x 1.5 hour sessions for £270 (handy for payday and each session also refundable should you choose not to have all sessions in the block)
• Opening Hours:
  Monday/Tuesday/Thursday: 9:30am-7:30pm 
  Friday: 9:30am-5pm
• Session Occurrence: Weekly | Fortnightly | 4 weekly/monthly
• Hot and cold drinks provided | Downstairs toilet available | Driveway parking | 5 minute drive from M57 | 10 minute walk from Prescot train station | Quiet household (please note my therapy room is up one flight of stairs)
• I am open to all enquiries. All prospective clients will need to complete an Assessment Questionnaire (sent via email) so you can go into detail about your needs and I can check I am an appropriate therapist for you (I will let you know at this point if I'm not). After that we can do a free 30-60 minute WhatsApp video call to 'meet' and decide if we'd like to work together

About Me:

I am a 36 year old previous Nurse/Midwife now self employed as an NCPS registered Integrative Psychotherapist. I am vegan, Queer/Bi and have a history of PCOS/PMOS and miscarriage (for those who any of these matter to). I live with my husband who often works from home (he is in his own study and keeps out of the way). We have four cats (one of whom will often join you for therapy if you want that) and two tortoises.

My previous experience in Hospice Nursing and Midwifery has naturally geared me towards working with people at their most vulnerable moments. This has carried on in my Counselling practice where I have found myself working with predominantly women, around topics such as their unrecognised/neglected health issues and maternity experiences within the context of a patriarchal medical system. It also involves all other aspects of their identity as holistic, whole human beings within a patriarchal, non-holistic society living through late stage Capitalism (including their rights, relationships with themselves and others of all kinds, how they live vs societal/cultural expectations and much more). 

I adore stories of all kinds and my own creativity has really guided me over the course of my life to discover who I am and where I want to go. Be this music, television and films, gaming, books, nature, gardening, cooking and particularly writing my own fiction - all of them are passionate aspects of my life that really help me to feel alive and content. My relationships, particularly friendships both old and new, and building my chosen family are the main focus in my life currently.

What Therapy Do I Offer?

My approach is very much underpinned by the work/principles of Carl Rogers (Person Centered Therapy), Carl Jung (Analytical Psychology/Archetypes) and the combined work of Dr Jessica Taylor (anti-pathology Psychologist), Lucy Johnstone (The Power Threat Meaning Framework), Jo Watson (A Disorder 4 Everyone), Brene Brown (The Call to Courage/Daring Greatly) and Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps The Score). 

My approach is therefore friendly, down to earth, realistic and informal, informed not only by my training and own personal therapy but my own life experiences, the world we live in and the power of fictional stories and all forms of creativity. 

In my therapy room your right to be a human being first and foremost in a world that doesn't particularly encourage or embrace that (and often wilfully ignores/abuses for its own means) will always be protected. You, just as you are, are very welcome and we will work in a way that encompasses all aspects of you as a human being. This includes how your emotions and distress are manifesting within your body, why they are and how you can nurture yourself through that to eventually reclaim yourself and your life.

I will never ask 'what's wrong with you?' as I truly don't endorse the notion that any aspect of you is inherently 'wrong'. I don't consider you mentally ill, disordered, abnormal or any other language/idea that actively ignores/pathologises your intense yet natural emotional distress/trauma response and generally your way of being.

That doesn't mean I don't appreciate your symptoms or don't hold you responsible for your own behaviour. It just means I, like many professionals, believe they and it are rooted in your body and brain's natural and learned response to distress and trauma rather than illness or disorder (unless they are part of a physical health condition or caused by a substance/medication). 

I will ask instead 'what's happened to you?' and I will wait while you, at your own pace and in your own way, tell your story. We will make sense together of your story, one session at a time, in a space that holds and nurtures your humanity at its core (often with a brew, a cat, swearing and as much laughter as tears). Anything you need to bring is welcome, be it stuff you're aware of (including societal/world events and happenings) or stuff you're not. When I ask 'how are you?' at the start of your session, I mean it. I really do want to know.

Therapy can be all at once so freeing yet so exhausting too. It truly is hard work and it's so important you have the space in your life to take it on. I don't offer coping strategies - you’re already coping, you’re wanting to learn how to live rather than just survive. But I will always hold central the necessity of nurturing yourself, both in and out of therapy, on all levels (especially in light of any physical health diagnoses) and what this can look/feel like.

From fidget toys, blankets, cushions, hot drinks and colouring pencils and paper in my therapy room should you want them to discussing the importance of play, rest and movement and nourishment in your general life we will explore together what nurturing means to you and how necessary it is in a world that leaves so many of us so vulnerable and yet can be anything but nurturing. 

My clients come to appreciate too how their interests and hobbies are highly significant in terms of nurturing and knitting together their whole identity. I am very open with all clients for example about how as an adult the music of Taylor Swift and the TV shows Outlander and Heated Rivalry have hugely helped me to uncover parts of my own story and self that I just wasn’t aware of previously. Previous childhood loves such as Harry Potter, The Sims, Pokémon and Doctor Who have all done the same for me and I still cherish and critically question them all to this day. All of them shelter me in different universes until I’ve gotten from them what I need. Specific characters stick with and inspire me until I understand why I need them. There is a reason and a ‘why’ for everything that interests and inspires us. All of it is more than welcome in my therapy room in whatever format that takes. All if it deserves our curiosity rather than judgement. The wisdom to be gained here can’t be underestimated. 

I’ve found in working this way with clients that sex, relationships and death too are often what lie at the core of their creative interests. I’m not a sex therapist but I am well used to talking about it, as I am death - be it as a friend, hospice nurse, midwife, counsellor, woman or wife, sex and death are two topics that are a certainty in our lives in one way or another and yet are rarely acknowledged truly outside of creative formats. 

In my therapy room they are both the norm - both are cornerstones of living and are both regarded and held as such. If your favourite series is a smut series for example eg A Court of Thorns and Roses or the Game Changers series I want to hear about it! We can discuss exactly what you feel about all aspects of them and the characters involved and uncover the why of it. Why does that character speak to you? Who do they remind you of? Do you have anyone like them in your own life? Do you wish you did? Why? It’s a very relaxed, often funny, and very meaningful way of getting to the root of your feelings and needs and uncovering your own identity. 

This is radically gentle, deep work that can feel as tough and exhausting as it can be soothing, hopeful and peace bringing. Clients learn that they have authentic, organic needs that deserve to be considered and met.  For many it's been life changing as they've often for the first time fully embraced who they are and learned that they have a right to be themselves and in the driving seat of their own life.

Why Is Finding The Right Therapist For You Important?

It's so important that our relationship is one where you feel seen, heard and respected so you can ultimately decide to trust me with the most vulnerable aspects of who you are as you unfold your story. The space between us is where the work and growth happens and it's vital that you feel able to trust me to hold it for you and witness your unfolding. 

The therapeutic relationship is intimate in a way that is both delicate yet immensely strong when it is present. It will form the core and basis of our work together. Therefore, if my approach/our relationship is not one that is working for you, I can point you in the direction of other therapists/websites. Your therapy is all about you - if I'm not your cup of tea please don't worry! I know how life changing finding the right therapist for me was - I'm not here to deny you that experience and would never want to.

While You Wait For Your Therapy To Begin:

In the meantime, please take care. I remember well how scary it felt taking the step towards finding my own Counsellor. It takes a lot of courage to admit you want help and support and then to actually go through with it, despite feeling so vulnerable. 

The world of counselling/therapy can appear confusing and contradictory and full of theory and ideas and medical jargon battling for superiority. My own Counsellor, herself doing a PhD, did not bombard me with any of that. She offered me a brew, we sat in her healing room in her garden every Thursday evening and we had very human, often funny and insightful, chats. Sometimes I felt like I'd verbally vomited all over her and she listened while I told my story angrily and sadly to her. 

Through it all, she simply held the space and bore witness to me unfolding and discovering who I am and settling into me and my life. She was just very real and down to earth with me. Steadfast in supporting me to understand the impact of the distressing world and society we live within. She safeguarded thoroughly my right to be a human being with human needs.

It was that that solidified our relationship. It enabled me to talk a jumble of all sorts to her and trust her to respect my jumble while she helped me to sort through it until I felt at peace and empowered to live my life authentically. It was life-changing and formed the core of what I offer my clients as a therapist now myself.

Therapy can take a short or long while, is flexible and is based upon whatever you need. While you wait to start, with me or another Therapist, please take care.

• Anxiety relating to the functioning of society (eg government, wider world issues, news etc)
• NHS worker stress/anxiety/burnout
• Bereavement/grief due to the death of a pet/animal
• Women's health (including PCOS and other diagnoses, particularly with regards to not feeling seen/heard within our medical system)

Please note I am open to all enquiries and will assess on a case by case basis as to whether my experience is appropriate for your needs or not. 

• Standard Fees: £50 per hour/£75 per 1.5 hours
• Concessionary Rate: £40 per hour (limited spaces)
• Block Booking Offer: £180 for 4 x 1 hour sessions or £270 for 4 x 1.5 hour sessions (equates to £45 per 1 hour session/£67.50 per 1.5 hour session)
•  All fees are to be paid before sessions occur via bank transfer or cash on the day
• 24 hour cancellation policy in place to be used at my discretion

Monday: 9:30am-7:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am-7:30pm
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 9:30am-7:30pm
Friday: 9:30am-5:00pm
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: CLOSED

• Sessions can occur weekly, fortnightly or monthly/4 weekly according to your needs
• I work in person and online via Google Meet/Whatsapp Video
• My home office is upstairs so if you're wanting face to face sessions please bear this in mind in terms of accessibility
• On drive and road parking is available. I'm a 5 minute drive from the M57 and 10 minute walk from Prescot train station
• If you are wanting to work online please ensure you have a well functioning device that has a front facing camera and an internet connection that is usually reliable. I am happy to assist you in learning how to use Google Meet or Whatsapp video for our sessions
• I ask all prospective clients to complete an assessment questionnaire in response to your enquiry that I will send via email. On completion of that and at my discretion I then offer a 30 min free introductory chat (usually via Whatsapp Video) that we can book where we can introduce ourselves, chat about your needs and what I can offer and book in for therapy if this is what you would like