Claire Smith, BACP

Claire Smith is a UK-licensed therapist with four years of professional experience who supports people dealing with anxiety, low mood, bereavement, relationship difficulties, family conflict and complex trauma and abuse. She has worked within the NHS NELFT children’s crisis unit, gaining experience with severe mental health concerns and high-risk presentations. Claire approaches each person with respect, sensitivity and compassion, shaping conversations and treatment plans to match individual needs and circumstances.

She has experience working with neurodiverse clients and specifically with OCD, ADHD and autism. Claire holds BACP accreditation - membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and integrates a practical, person-centred stance into her work. She recognises that beginning therapy requires courage and aims to offer steady, tailored support as people take those first steps toward understanding and managing the issues that brought them to therapy.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Claire Smith draws on several evidence-informed approaches to guide online therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and build psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns formed in early relationships and how they affect current connections; it can help with relationship difficulties, intimacy-related concerns and family conflict. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works with the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours to reduce distress and develop practical coping strategies, often helping with anxiety, depression and specific patterns like OCD.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Claire Smith works collaboratively with clients and other registered professionals to identify the best fit for an individual’s needs, goals and preferences. She adapts methods over time so the work remains relevant and useful.

Online therapy with Claire is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support, fit sessions around work or family commitments, and continue therapy when life circumstances change.