Claire Payne

Claire Payne is a counsellor who invites people to take the first step towards healing. She is NCPS credentialed, and offers a calm, steady presence for those coping with major life changes. Claire writes plainly and meets people where they are as they begin to talk about difficult experiences.

Claire has three years of experience as a named counsellor and more than 30 years working in social care settings. She practises an integrative approach that draws on person-centred ideas, Gestalt, and cognitive behavioural techniques. She also uses sand tray work for clients who find words hard to reach.

Her day-to-day work includes supporting people dealing with trauma, abuse, compassion fatigue and workplace stress. She helps with issues such as attachment and abandonment, post-traumatic stress, guilt and shame, and the stresses that come with parenting and caregiving.

Claire adapts the pace and style of sessions to each person. She can work short term or over a longer period, and aims to build steady, practical steps forward. She is based in Torbay, Devon and offers face-to-face work locally as well as remote sessions nationwide.

People who come to Claire often need help rebuilding self-esteem, managing impulsivity, or finding direction in midlife. She supports those navigating divorce and separation by focusing on coping strategies and clearer communication. Her approach is straightforward and grounded in experience.

Approaches that guide online work

Claire uses a blend of person-centred, Gestalt, and cognitive behavioural techniques. Person-centred work focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship so clients can explore their feelings at their own pace. Gestalt helps people notice patterns in the present moment and try out different ways of responding. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offer practical tools for managing distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Claire will work collaboratively to identify which methods suit a person's needs, goals and preferences. She adapts methods over time, checking in about what is or isn’t helpful and making practical changes together.

Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into a busy life and removing travel time. Remote working can make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins around work or family commitments. The exact session formats Claire offers should be confirmed when booking, so readers should check current options before scheduling.