Claire Bottomley, BACP

Claire Bottomley is a UK-based counsellor who works with adults and young people facing a wide range of emotional and life challenges, including anxiety, low mood, grief, relationship difficulties and the processing of traumatic experiences. She supports people who feel stuck in repetitive negative patterns and helps them find practical ways to cope and move forward in their day-to-day lives.

She holds a First Class Honours degree in Therapeutic Counselling and a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, and she is a certified Rewind Trauma Therapist with IARTT. Claire is an accredited member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) - the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. These qualifications reflect both foundational training in counselling and additional specialised training in trauma-focused and cognitive behavioural methods.

Working from an integrative, person-centred position, Claire blends practical tools from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with deeper exploration drawn from psychodynamic thinking and trauma-focused Rewind work when appropriate. She takes a collaborative approach, tailoring therapy to each person’s goals and life context and exploring how past experiences influence present patterns. Claire aims to create a respectful, non-judgmental space where clients can be heard, understood and begin to make meaningful changes.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Claire commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and client-centred therapy in her online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and learning practical strategies to change them - it is often used for anxiety, low mood and stress-related problems. Client-centred therapy places the person’s own experience at the heart of the work and emphasises empathy and collaboration - it helps people explore feelings, values and personal goals in a supportive way.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Claire works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and priorities evolve. This means therapy is shaped around the individual rather than a fixed model.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments, and they allow people to connect with licensed professionals and therapists from different locations while maintaining continuity of care and regular support.