Counselling and psychotherapy in Winchester and online
I’m passionate about helping people live a more fulfilled life. Since you’re here, perhaps you’re struggling at the moment. Feeling truly fulfilled and at peace often comes from living authentically and nurturing healthy, rewarding relationships. When our connection with ourselves, others, or our surroundings feels out of balance, it can lead to emotional strain and distress. I offer a safe and supportive space for conversation, exploration, and healing, where you can be your authentic self, free from judgment.
About me
I offer counselling and psychotherapy in Winchester and online, for people aged 16 and over. Together, we can look at what’s going on for you emotionally, and try to make sense of your feelings. The idea is to build a healthier, more balanced way of relating to yourself and others, so that you can handle tough times, find moments to laugh, and feel more able to thrive.
A former lawyer, I struggled for years with anxiety and body dysmorphic disorder. I'm now passionate about helping others through their own struggles, whatever they may be. As a BACP registered integrative therapist, I draw on a range of approaches from my training and experience to tailor my work to each person's unique needs. My approach is all about self-discovery, personal growth, and finding your own path. This kind of therapy is led by you, so you decide what you'd like to explore. I am here to support you in understanding your feelings and taking ownership of your thoughts and choices. It can be short-term or ongoing, depending on what you need.
I have experience working with clients with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, relationship difficulties, addictions, eating disorders and body image struggles. Alongside my private practice, I work for a specialist eating disorders service and a low cost counselling charity.
I work sensitively and respectfully with neurodivergent individuals, recognising that everyone’s experience is unique. As both the partner and parent of people with autism and ADHD, I bring personal insight as well as professional experience to support those navigating similar dynamics. I provide a safe, confidential space to talk through whatever is troubling you, whether you can put a name to it or not.
‘Claire strikes a perfect balance between professionalism and kindness. She creates a space that feels calm, safe, and flexible. Her insight and ability to gently guide reflection made every session feel both calming yet productive.’
Client
‘Following counselling with Claire, I feel the softest and simultaneously strongest I ever have. I am so grateful for this experience and the impact it’s had.’
Client
FAQs
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Sessions cost £65 and last 50 minutes - the standard ‘counselling hour.’ Sessions are usually held weekly at the same time, unless otherwise arranged. Depending on your needs, longer sessions or adjustments to frequency can be considered. Extended sessions are charged on a pro rata basis.
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Registered member (MBACP) of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)
FdA Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis: Distinction
Level 4 Humanistic Counselling
Level 2 & 3 Certificate Counselling
Certificate Online and Phone Therapy
SRA Regulated Solicitor
Legal Practice Course
Postgraduate Diploma in Law
MA (Oxon) Philosophy, Politics and Economics
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Anyone! Sometimes people worry that their problems aren’t bad enough, or that having therapy is indulgent or weak. I disagree. We all need support sometimes, and taking responsibility for your own mental health and wellbeing is far from weak.
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Not if you don’t want to. That said, it’s often in our past that the motivations for our present thoughts, feelings and behaviours took root, and so people sometimes find it useful to explore their younger years.
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I take a Humanistic approach to therapy. That means I’m not just focused on individual symptoms or problems but your whole self. This way of working is about free will, self-discovery, and helping you move toward your full potential as a human being. Therapy in this approach is led by you. I’m here to walk alongside you, to support you in exploring whatever feels important. Sometimes, I will draw on other modalities such as compassion-focused therapy, existential therapy, and the theory of Transactional Analysis, to help us gain insight into your feelings, your choices, and what’s going on beneath the surface - with care and curiosity, not judgment.
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I am an integrative counsellor with a focus on Transactional Analysis (TA). Eric Berne, a Canadian psychiatrist, developed TA in the late 1950s as a more practical alternative to traditional psychoanalysis. Berne believed childhood experiences shape adult personality. He introduced the concept of three ego states - Parent, Adult, and Child - formed through early experiences. These ego states affect our feelings and behaviours throughout life, leading us to form unconscious life scripts based on childhood survival decisions. TA therapy aims to help people rewrite these scripts, fostering healthier, more constructive behaviour.
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I can walk alongside you whilst you explore your relationship with food and your body. Together, we can work out what is keeping you stuck in disordered eating or body image struggles and discover a path to healing and wellbeing. My own lived experience of BDD and anorexia, together with my work for an eating disorders service, guide my work with clients, but I adapt my approach to suit you.
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I offer in-person sessions in central Winchester, and online sessions for those who can’t get to Winchester or who simply prefer the flexibility and convenience of online therapy.
Start your journey,
free of charge
Feel free to use the form, email me, or phone to book a free twenty minute consultation - a chance to chat through where you’re at, and what you hope to gain through counselling. If you feel I can help, we can book our first session.