Claire Payne

Claire Payne is an NCPS counsellor practising from Torbay, Devon. She writes plainly and welcomes people who are nervous about starting therapy. Claire aims to walk alongside clients as they take their first steps towards healing and change.

Claire brings a trauma-informed outlook built on many years in social care settings. She blends person-centred, Gestalt and cognitive behavioural approaches to suit each person. That mix means sessions can focus on feelings, present experience, or practical skills depending on what helps most.

She offers work that can be short term or longer term, and adapts the pace to each client. Claire also uses Sand Tray work for people who find it hard to put things into words. Her practice includes supporting people facing workplace stress, compassion fatigue, and the after-effects of abuse or early years trauma.

Claire pays attention to how attachment, abandonment and relationship patterns shape day-to-day life. She supports people dealing with guilt, shame, isolation, life-purpose questions and midlife changes. She also works with issues around pregnancy and childbirth, divorce and separation, and parenting-related stress.

Sessions are carried out from her practice in Torbay and remotely across the UK. Claire has three years’ experience as a counsellor in private practice, alongside a long background in social care. She is available to speak in English and does not take international clients at this time.

How Claire adapts therapy approaches for online work

Claire describes her practice as integrative, using person-centred, Gestalt and cognitive behavioural approaches. Person-centred work focuses on listening, empathy and helping people find their own answers; it suits those who need a steady, non-directive space to talk. Gestalt approaches pay attention to present experience and bodily awareness, helping people notice patterns in how they relate and respond here and now. Cognitive behavioural ideas look at thoughts, feelings and behaviours and help people develop practical strategies for change.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Claire will work collaboratively to choose methods that match your needs, goals and pace. That means trying things, checking how they feel, and adjusting as you go so sessions stay useful and manageable.

The practical benefits of online work can include fitting sessions around work or family life and avoiding travel time. Some people prefer not to be on camera or need shorter check-ins, and others find remote sessions easier to keep up with a busy week. Please confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered.