Claire Smith , BACP

Claire Smith works with people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, and issues around self-esteem and intimacy. She also supports those facing parenting pressures, career change, eating concerns, anger, ADHD and compassion fatigue. Claire holds BACP accreditation and practises from the United Kingdom.

Claire keeps sessions straightforward and practical. She uses clear, everyday language and focuses on small, manageable steps. Conversations are shaped around what matters most to the person in front of her, not a fixed script.

In session she draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try new behaviours. Attachment-based ideas are used to look at how early relationships affect current reactions. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills are introduced where emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed.

Her background includes clinical work in a children’s crisis unit within the NHS, where she encountered severe mental health presentations and high-risk situations. That experience informed her calm, attentive style and her emphasis on safety and practical coping strategies.

Claire aims to tailor each plan to the person’s goals and circumstances. She works with neurodiverse clients and people managing co-morbidity or complex presentations, and she adapts pace and methods to suit individual needs.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and life changes because it combines mindfulness with practical goal-setting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing thinking and behaviour patterns that keep problems going. It often includes simple exercises and between-session tasks to test new ways of coping. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in close relationships and helps people understand how early experiences shape current reactions and relationship choices.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Claire will discuss which methods suit the person's goals, symptoms and preferences and will adapt techniques as needed. She aims to involve the person in planning so therapy feels relevant and manageable.

Online therapy using video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text messaging offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when bandwidth permits, phone sessions can fit a break at work or a quieter moment, and chat or text-based messaging can be useful for short check-ins or for people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around daily life while using the same core techniques as in-person work.