Claire Phillips, BACP

Claire Phillips has practised as a professional counsellor for over 10 years and is registered with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She works from a person-centred approach, creating a calm and nonjudgmental space where people can gently explore difficult thoughts and feelings and begin to find new perspectives.

Her work embraces the complexity of human experience, helping clients face fears and painful emotions in ways that can open the door to change and ongoing self-discovery. Claire aims to support people to notice their strengths and to use those resources to navigate life challenges and improve relationships.

Claire brings a broad range of experience from working in diverse settings, including NHS surgeries, prisons, drop-in centres and care homes. She has experience with children and young adults, and has supported people presenting with suicidal ideation, self-harm and drug or alcohol problems. Having lived and worked in South East Asia for over 10 years and in South East London for over 20 years, she offers culturally sensitive care informed by that background.

Claire has a strong understanding of trauma and its many impacts - psychological, cognitive, behavioural and physical - and how untreated trauma can contribute to issues such as substance misuse, depression, dissociation and social withdrawal. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process and aims to facilitate healing while helping clients recognise the personal strengths that can support recovery.

How Claire's approaches translate to online therapy

Claire frequently combines client-centred work with trauma-aware approaches to help clients feel heard and supported. Client-centred therapy focuses on offering an accepting, empathetic environment where individuals can explore thoughts and feelings at their own pace - this approach is useful for building trust and addressing issues like low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and grief.

Attachment-based therapy looks at patterns in relationships and early bonds to understand current emotional reactions and relational challenges. It can be helpful for people dealing with abandonment, attachment difficulties, intimacy concerns and complex relationship dynamics.

Claire also draws on elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when helpful to identify unhelpful thinking and practical ways to manage symptoms such as anxiety, low mood or sleep problems. The choice of approach is collaborative - Claire works with each person to find the best fit based on their needs, goals and preferences, and she adapts methods as the work progresses.

Online therapy with Claire is offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit different schedules and energy levels. These options make it easier to access regular support from licensed professionals and to continue therapeutic work even when in-person meetings are not possible.