Claire Smith

Claire Smith is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, and low mood. She also supports people facing grief, intimacy and body image concerns, eating problems, parenting strain, and work-related stress. Claire holds BACP accreditation and has four years of clinical experience in the UK.

Her approach is conversational and person-focused. She listens first to understand what matters to each person. Sessions are shaped around the individual’s goals, and Claire adapts techniques to suit how someone prefers to work.

Claire has experience working in the NHS children’s crisis unit, where she managed severe mental health concerns and high-risk presentations. That background informs her ability to stay calm and practical when situations feel overwhelming. She also has experience supporting people with ADHD, obsessive-compulsive tendencies and autism.

She uses a mix of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. These methods are used in straightforward ways to build coping skills, manage intense emotions, and improve communication.

Claire tends to work collaboratively, helping people set clear, achievable steps between sessions. She emphasises respect, sensitivity and compassion in every meeting. If you’re unsure what to expect, she encourages a short initial conversation to see if the fit feels right.

How therapeutic approaches fit into online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without fighting them, then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, low mood and struggling with change. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour, and teaches practical strategies to reduce distress and improve daily routines. It often helps with anxiety, low mood and problem-focused goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about what they hope to achieve and suggest methods that fit those aims. That discussion is collaborative and may combine elements from different approaches to match the person’s needs and preferences.

The biography does not list specific online formats, so please confirm available session types before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into busy days, allow shorter check-ins, or remove travel time. Online work can also make it simpler to use practical tools between meetings, such as worksheets and short skills practice, while keeping the focus on real-life goals and coping strategies.