Claire AustenNCPS

Claire Austen is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with five years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression and life changes. She uses a warm, non-judgemental style and focuses on helping clients talk through difficult feelings and practical problems. Claire works with a wide range of concerns including grief, relationship difficulties, parenting stress and issues around self-esteem and identity.

She draws mainly on a person-centred approach, which means listening carefully and helping people find their own solutions once obstacles become clearer. Claire also draws on cognitive behavioural methods to offer practical strategies for mood and anxiety management. This combination aims to balance emotional understanding with usable tools clients can apply between sessions.

Claire has a diploma in CBT and is registered with NCPS. She has worked with people from many backgrounds over five years and describes her manner as empathic and respectful. The focus is on exploring what matters to each person at their own pace.

In sessions she helps people identify unhelpful patterns, practise new ways of coping and make space for difficult emotions. She pays attention to attachment and past relationship patterns where these are relevant. Claire encourages small, achievable steps so change feels manageable rather than overwhelming.

Her approach suits people who want a listening space plus practical ideas to try between meetings. Anyone considering starting therapy is invited to use the Start Therapy button and complete the short matching questionnaire to arrange an initial appointment.

How her approaches translate to online work

Claire commonly combines a person-centred (client-centred) way of relating with cognitive behavioural techniques. Person-centred work focuses on listening closely, reflecting emotions and helping people to access what matters most to them; it is useful for grief, low mood and feelings around parenting or identity. Cognitive behavioural methods offer more structured steps and practical exercises to manage anxiety, low mood and unhelpful thoughts.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide whether more listening and reflection or more skills-based work suits the person's goals. This is reviewed as therapy progresses so methods can be adjusted to what helps most.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm available options before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they can fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Online work also makes it easier for international clients to connect with registered or accredited professionals without relocating, while keeping therapy practical and focused on the changes a person wants to make.