Claire Baker Counselling
How I Can Help YouI provide counselling help from private premises in Ashtead, Surrey. This page shares information about how counselling can help, how counselling works, and how I can help you resolve your challenges. I have also compiled an FAQ to answer the most common questions clients ask me.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is… self-exploration and healing in a non-judgmental setting.
Counselling is… building a trusting bond with a guide towards self-awareness.
Counselling is… learning coping strategies for life’s challenges.
Counselling is… transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.
Life can hurt sometimes and we don’t always know why we feel the way we do, feeling stuck or trapped – that’s where counselling can really help. Counselling is a process of talking about and working through your personal struggles in a safe space. I will work with you to look at how your past and present selves relate and look at the defences and barriers that you may have built in order to ‘survive’ so far.
Trained In The Use Of Multiple Counselling Methods
Having been trained in a range of counselling methods, I use different techniques and tools from a range of counselling theories to help you gain a clearer understanding of yourself and the opportunity for you to reflect on your thinking and feeling responses to situations.
I understand that deciding on a therapist who has a good fit for you is an important part of the healing journey. You can find more information about me and how I work on my About Me page.
A Safe Space To Heal
I understand from both my personal and professional experience that it can be hard to reach out and ask for help. Divulging your inner fears to a stranger can be intimidating. As part of my training, I had many years of personal therapy and can appreciate how nerve wracking it may be for you. My aim is to offer you a safe space in a calm environment, to build a working relationship based on trust, honesty and empathy.
Barriers to Accessing Counselling
Starting counselling for healing and self-discovery is brave, but common concerns and misconceptions often cause hesitation. You’re not alone in feeling this way. Acknowledging these barriers is the first step in overcoming them. Do any of these sound familiar to you? If so, you are not alone, recent research has indicated these are amongst the most common reasons people do not access counselling or therapy that could help them.
- Didn’t think my problem was serious enough to seek help 90%
- Shame or embarrassment 70%
- Don’t know how to talk about issues 50%
- Worry about confidentiality 80%
- Thought support wouldn’t be helpful 50%
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya AngelouHow Counselling Can Help
The personal challenges that face us all at times are complex and unique. My compassionate approach is designed to support a wide array of individual needs. While the list below outlines common areas I address, I understand that everyone’s experience is distinct. In my safe and confidential space, you are encouraged to explore and express your innermost thoughts and feelings, whatever they may be:
* Anxiety – Navigate through the maze of anxious thoughts and find a calmer, more centered you.
* Depression – Illuminate the path from darkness to a place of hope and balance.
* Grief and Loss – Journey through your grief with understanding and gentle guidance, turning pain into healing.
* Stress and Overwhelm – Transform stress into strength by learning coping strategies and resilience-building techniques.
* Relationships – Foster healthier relationships through improved communication, understanding, and empathy.
* Trauma Recovery – Embark on a healing journey with a caring guide to process and overcome traumatic experiences.
* Building Self-esteem – Discover your true value and cultivate a stronger, more confident self-image.
* Loneliness – Create connections and find belonging in a world that can sometimes feel isolating.
Adaptable Contact Methods For Counselling
My counselling practice is adaptable to your requirements. My private facilities are located in Ashtead, Surrey, and I can meet clients in person, over the telephone or via an online platform.
From previous counselling experience with clients, I have found that face to face sessions result in the best outcomes. However, I appreciate that individuals will prefer other mediums that fit with their lifestyle, availability, location etc., and these factors are also important in the decision about which method of contact to utilise. We can discuss this and decide together how to tailor a contact method that works best for your individual circumstances.
Face to Face/ In Person
My counselling practice is run from a private counselling room in my garden in Ashtead, Surrey. This is a cosy, peaceful and confidential space for us to meet. A time to get away from all your usual distractions in life and focus solely on yourself.
Telephone
I am happy to conduct counselling sessions on the telephone. It’s really important that you have a safe space where you can talk freely, uninhibited by the potential of people listening in.
Online (via Zoom or MS Teams)
If this is your preferred method of meeting, I can establish a link to an online platform that works best for you. Again, you will need a safe space to talk openly and not be interrupted – as well as making sure you have a good and reliable internet connection.
Claire’s unwavering support, empathetic listening and insightful perspectives have been invaluable on my journey towards healing and a better understanding of myself. She fostered a space where I felt heard and understood.
Claire has made a profound impact, and I’m truly grateful for all she has done for me.
How I Work
My counselling training was in Relationship Psychology. It is a ‘systemic integrative psychotherapeutic model’ which in basic terms means that the relationship between the counsellor and the client is at the core of the work undertaken, enabling clients to gain insight into patterns of thoughts, actions and emotions that may be affecting the way they live today.
Counselling Tailored To Your Needs
We are all so different and our experiences vary, so there is not a fixed way of working that’s right for everybody. Being an integrative counsellor means that I can use a number of different psychological theories to inform the work I do with my clients – for example, humanistic, existential or psychodynamic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions will I need?
There is no definitive answer to this. Some counselling practices offer short term counselling (usually 6-12 weeks) and this may help with a specific issue you have. Longer term counselling works for people who have a lot to unravel. There is no minimum or maximum time – it’s whatever you want and we will review your needs regularly.
Will what I say be confidential?
- If you wish me to speak with a medical professional on your behalf and I have your consent, I can liaise with them.
- If I am required by a court of law to disclose information.
- If I have concerns that you are at risk of harm.
- If I have concerns that others are at risk of harm.