Clare Atkinson

• Stress and anxiety
• Self esteem
• CBT and mindfulness

About Clare

Clare Atkinson helps people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, coping with life changes and ADHD by working in a straightforward, person-focused way. She uses conversation and practical techniques to help people notice what gets in the way and try different ways of coping. Clare is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and has 13 years of professional experience.

Clare uses a client-centred approach that keeps the person's views and preferences central to the sessions. She also draws on cognitive behavioural therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try small behavioural experiments. Mindfulness techniques and solution-focused ideas are used to build simple, usable skills between sessions.

She supports people dealing with ageing and geriatric issues, autism and Asperger syndrome related concerns, blended family issues, cancer, and caregiver stress. Clare also works with clients facing chronic pain, long-term illness, communication difficulties, divorce and separation, and the emotional effects of infidelity.

Sessions tend to be practical and conversational. Clare helps people set clear, short-term goals and checks in on progress each meeting. She uses motivational interviewing when people are finding it hard to make changes or stick with plans.

Clare practises in the United Kingdom and conducts sessions in English. Her background of 13 years means she has worked with a wide range of common life stresses and adjustment issues.

Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions can work

Clare combines client-centred work with cognitive behavioural techniques to help people notice habits of thinking and try different ways of responding. Client-centred therapy concentrates on listening to the person's own concerns and preferences, while CBT breaks problems down into thoughts, feelings and actions to create practical steps forward.

She also uses mindfulness to teach basic attention and grounding practices that reduce reactivity and help with low mood or anxiety. These practices are simple to learn and can be practised between sessions to support day-to-day coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Clare will talk with the person about goals, options and what feels most useful, and they will agree a plan together. This collaborative process means approaches can be adjusted as progress is reviewed.

Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as the biography does not specify them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They can also suit people who prefer not to be on camera or who need a lower-bandwidth option.

Topics Clare lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Self-esteem
• Depression
• Coping with life changes
• ADHD
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Blended family issues
• Cancer
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Co-morbidity
• Communication problems
• Divorce and separation
• Emptiness
• Family problems
• Forgiveness
• Hospice and end-of-life counselling
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Intellectual disability
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Midlife crisis
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Personality disorders
• Phobias
• Self-harm
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Visually impaired
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Solution-Focused Therapy

Questions about Clare

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety is one of her main areas of practice and she uses cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness to help manage symptoms.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She offers client-centred counselling alongside cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques.

How much experience does she have?

She has 13 years of professional experience working in counselling and related roles.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

What languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can I have sessions from outside the UK?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start a first session?

Click the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.