Claire Cotgrove, BACP

Claire Cotgrove offers an affirming, non-judgemental space for people to talk through identity, trauma and relationship concerns. She welcomes conversation about sexuality, gender and neurodivergence, and helps people who are carrying shame or recovering from abusive experiences.

Claire uses a person-centred approach that keeps the client's experience at the centre of sessions. She listens reflectively and follows each person’s lead, helping them make sense of feelings and choices in their life. The goal is to help people feel more empowered and accepted as they work through whatever brought them to counselling.

Alongside person-centred work, Claire uses trauma-focused ways of working when needed. This means the focus shifts to understanding how past harm affects current life and relationships, and to building practical steps for managing difficult memories and responses.

She brings three years of clinical experience and is accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. That registration reflects her professional standing in the United Kingdom and the frameworks she follows in practice.

Sessions are shaped around what each person needs. Claire may offer creative approaches as part of therapy for those who find different ways of expressing themselves helpful. She aims to create steady, compassionate work that helps people move towards more peaceful, manageable days.

If you want a calmer way to think about identity, trauma or connection, Claire offers a listening space to begin that work.

How Claire's approaches work for online therapy

Person-centred therapy focuses on the client's experience and values warm, non-judgemental listening. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflecting feelings and helping them find their own answers; this can be useful for identity exploration, relationship questions and building self-esteem.

Trauma-focused therapy attends to how past harm continues to affect daily life. It involves working carefully through memories and reactions and building practical tools to manage triggers and distress. This approach can help people who have experienced abuse, coercion or other traumatic events.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Claire will work collaboratively to choose whether person-centred or trauma-focused methods suit your needs, goals and preferences. You can expect discussion about what feels most helpful and gradual adjustments as therapy progresses.

The original biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to schedule sessions around work, reduce travel time and allow quieter check-ins when long visits are difficult. It also allows different ways of working, such as talking or using creative exercises, to fit into everyday life without needing a long commute.