Claire Payne

• Trauma and abuse
• Workplace stress
• Sand tray work

About Claire

Claire Payne works with family issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, career concerns and compassion fatigue using an integrative approach. She is NCPS registered and has three years’ experience as a practising counsellor. Claire offers face-to-face work locally in Torbay, Devon and remote sessions nationwide according to her profile.

Claire uses a blend of Person Centred, Gestalt and CBT approaches in her work. She also offers sand tray work when words are difficult to find. Sessions can be short or long term depending on what the client and counsellor agree.

Before her current role she spent many years working in social care settings. That experience informs how she talks about early years trauma and the ongoing effects of adverse experiences. She describes her work as trauma informed and has worked with people affected by domestic abuse and sexual abuse.

Practical concerns in the sessions include workplace stress, burnout and compassion fatigue. She also addresses attachment issues, post-traumatic stress, communication problems and the effects of abandonment or separation. Claire names midlife questioning, life purpose and isolation among the themes she supports.

Her profile states that she works flexibly to accommodate pace and style. People who find it hard to put feelings into words may be offered sand tray work as an alternative way to express things. To begin, the service asks clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

Claire practises in the United Kingdom and conducts sessions in English. International clients are not currently accepted, and the subscription used for sessions can be cancelled at any time.

How Claire applies therapeutic approaches remotely

Claire works with a combination of Person Centred, Gestalt and cognitive behavioural techniques. Person Centred work focuses on listening carefully and following what the client finds most important, which helps when people need space to talk about difficult feelings. Gestalt work pays attention to present moment experience and how patterns play out in daily life, useful for issues like attachment and communication. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and can help with workplace stress, burnout and unhelpful coping patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Claire will discuss different ways of working and decide with the client which methods to try, based on their needs, goals and preferences. The client and counsellor review progress and adjust the approach where needed.

Her profile mentions face-to-face sessions locally in Torbay and remote sessions nationwide, but it does not list specific remote formats. Please confirm current session options before booking. Remote sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow continuity of work when meeting in person is difficult. Different formats can also suit different tasks for example a shorter phone or audio check-in when bandwidth is limited or a video session for a fuller conversational experience.

Topics Claire lists

• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Self-esteem
• Career difficulties
• Compassion fatigue
• Abandonment
• Attachment issues
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Divorce and separation
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Impulsivity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Midlife crisis
• Narcissism
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Questions about Claire

Does she work with trauma and abuse?

Yes. Her profile describes work with domestic abuse, sexual abuse, early years trauma and post-traumatic stress.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She uses an integrative approach combining Person Centred, Gestalt and CBT methods, and can include sand tray work where words are harder to find.

What experience does she have?

She has three years of experience as a practising counsellor and many additional years working within social care settings.

Where is she based and registered?

She is based in Torbay, Devon in the United Kingdom and is registered with NCPS.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people from other countries book with her?

International clients are not currently accepted according to her profile.

What formats are available for sessions?

The biography states face-to-face work locally in Torbay and remote sessions nationwide; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost and how do they charge?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.