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FAQs

There are multiple ways in which I believe therapy can help. Being able to talk things through with a trained professional, someone other than your friends or family, can bring a great sense of relief.

Sometimes embarrassment and the desire not to burden loved ones can mean that our deepest concerns are left unspoken; which can bring about more suffering. Therapy can also help by bringing you new understanding about your patterns of behaviour and ways of relating to others. It can help you to look at reasons why you have faced the difficulties that you have and look at how things could be different in the future.

Therapy can bring new levels of awareness that makes life easier to manage and the possibility of other ways of being in the world.

The first session is an opportunity for me to find out more about you and your difficulties and for you to decide whether you would like to continue to work with me.

This session will last 50 minutes, as will any other future sessions unless agreed otherwise. I will ask several questions to find out more about you and I may jot down a few notes. This will be very different from our ongoing sessions as these will predominantly be led by you, and I will not be taking notes after the first session. We will discuss what you would like to achieve from therapy, and you will be given the opportunity to ask about how I practice.

Following the session, I will give you some time to go away and think about whether I am the right therapist for you – there will be no pressure on you to continue if you realise that you are not ready. The decision to engage in therapy can be a difficult one and therapy will only work when you feel you are ready and comfortable.

All therapy sessions will last 50 minutes. We will meet at the same time and the same day each week. Although this can be negotiated if you are a shift worker.

Therapy sessions will always start on the hour.

Some people may benefit from psychotherapy twice a week and, if you feel that you might want this, we can discuss how this may work.

Therapy sessions are strictly confidential. The only exception to this is if something arises that suggests danger to yourself or others; in which case I would discuss my concerns with you.

For example, if you were at risk to yourself we might agree that I should liaise with your doctor. None of this would be done without your prior knowledge and, wherever possible, would be agreed upon with you.

I personalise and adapt therapy to each client’s unique needs and the relationship we build together. I am trained in psychodynamic therapy and draw on psychoanalytic ideas to support my work. I believe that our childhood experiences can influence how we feel about ourselves and relate to others. I also have extensive experience as a teacher and a senior leader in a school and have a very good understanding of the pressures that might bring.

I offer a 30 minute free session-either by phone or online. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and to get a feel for my style of working. I usually advise that you speak to a few therapists before deciding to proceed with therapy as it helps to work out the best personality fit.

I offer in-person therapy at Hides Farm Therapy Centre near Hastings, or at The Wellington Health and Well-being Centre in Hastings Town Centre, which is easily accessible by public transport.

I also offer online and phone sessions.

Contact Me
“When I started therapy, my panic attacks were controlling my life. I didn’t think talking could help, but I slowly began to feel safer in my own body again. I’m calmer now and much more confident in myself.”
“After going through a very stressful period that I didn’t think I could get through, Claire helped me to find a quieter kind of peace that I didn’t think was possible.”
“Living with constant pain had worn me down emotionally. Through Claire’s help, I could understand how much I was carrying and how to be kinder to myself. I feel more resilient and less alone.”
“I started therapy feeling burnt out and stuck. The sessions helped me step back, and make sense of the patterns I’d ignored for years. I now feel steadier and clearer in both work and life.”
“I was nervous and unsure what to expect, but I felt listened to from the start. Therapy became a safe space that I looked forward to, where I could speak honestly and begin to understand myself in a deeper way.”
“I had thought about having therapy for years after recurring episodes of mental ill health, but always put it off. After meeting Claire and talking through my issues I’m so glad I’ve finally taken the steps to transform my understanding of my life and transform my future.”