Clair Atkinson, BACP

Clair Atkinson is a counsellor who supports people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression and the strain of long-term illness. She also helps with relationship and intimacy issues, parenting stress, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD-related concerns, and compassion fatigue. Clair brings warmth and practical attention to sessions and encourages people to discover their own strengths.

Clair holds a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Before training as a counsellor she worked for 33 years as a registered nurse, and that experience shapes her calm, grounded approach. She has five years of therapeutic practice experience overall.

Her way of working is client-centred. That means she listens closely, reflects what matters to each person, and follows their lead rather than imposing a fixed plan. Sessions focus on what is happening now and on practical ways to cope with painful feelings and difficult decisions.

Clair aims to create space to talk through loss, trauma, feelings of emptiness, guilt, shame and issues around attachment and abandonment. She also supports people managing chronic pain, cancer, disability and the emotional weight of caregiving.

People can expect straightforward conversation, empathic listening and gentle challenge when it helps. Clair encourages small, manageable steps and supports clients to build on their existing resources and resilience.

How client-centred approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, acceptance and helping people find their own solutions. In practice this means the counsellor reflects what you say, asks gentle questions and supports you to notice your strengths and choices. It is useful for stress, anxiety, grief, relationship concerns and coping with long-term illness.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Clair will discuss what feels most helpful and adapt her responses to your needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change over time as your priorities shift.

Confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, cut travel time and allow people to meet from different locations. It can also allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, or audio-only meetings when bandwidth is limited. Registered or accredited professionals can work with clients internationally, and the practical aim is to make therapy easier to attend and sustain rather than to promise any particular outcome.