Claire PayneNCPS

Claire Payne is an NCPS counsellor who offers supportive, trauma-aware care. She speaks plainly and works to make starting therapy feel manageable for someone in a stressful life stage. Her approach aims to help people take small steps towards feeling steadier and more in control.

Claire trained as a trainer and has a background in social care spanning three decades, which informs her understanding of workplace stress and compassion fatigue. She draws on experience with domestic and sexual abuse, early years trauma and attachment difficulties when talking through responses to hurtful events.

Her practice uses a mix of Person Centred, Gestalt and cognitive behavioural approaches. Claire adapts each session to the person in front of her, matching pace and style so people can work at a comfortable rhythm. She also offers Sand Tray work for clients who find it hard to put feelings into words.

Claire works with people on both short and longer term goals and supports those dealing with career strain, low self-esteem, and complicated feelings such as guilt or shame. Pregnancy and childbirth is listed among areas she can address alongside issues like separation, isolation and post-traumatic stress.

She is based in the United Kingdom and provides local face-to-face sessions in Torbay, Devon as well as remote sessions nationwide. Claire uses an approach that aims to be practical, steady and compassionate as people find their feet again.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Claire combines a few established approaches to help people manage emotional pain and practical problems. Person Centred work focuses on listening and reflecting so the client feels heard and can find their own solutions. Gestalt work pays attention to present-moment experience, using simple exercises to notice patterns and change unhelpful habits. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at thoughts and behaviours and use practical steps to reduce distress and build different routines.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy rather than a fixed promise. Claire discusses options with each person and shapes sessions around what feels most helpful. This is a collaborative process that takes account of goals, history and how someone prefers to work.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example avoiding travel and fitting a shorter check-in into a lunch break. The biography indicates Claire offers remote sessions nationwide, but please confirm current session options before booking. Many people find remote work helps maintain continuity of care when circumstances change, and Claire will talk through practical arrangements so sessions suit daily routines.