Claire Duhan

I offer sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the daytime, in-person and online in Oxford.

I am a qualified psychodynamic therapist working in Oxford, in-person and online. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Practice from Oxford University. It was a rigorous training that included intense self-reflection and that I attend my own therapy. Since then, I have worked in third sector organisations and private practice. 

My approach is gentle, so we can go at your own pace, and I have a trauma-informed practice. I will work with you to reflect on your life, examine your present difficulties, and look to a future with changes in line with your values and purpose. I think about the client/therapist relationship and how this can be a space to make connections, improve relationships, and repair ruptures, as well as develop compassion for yourself. I also consider the role of the body in my work and how you relate to it, as well as how it may interact with how you move through the world.

My modality is psychodynamic, which means that we consider what might be happening for you both consciously and unconsciously. By thinking together, we can identify root causes and patterns that might be contributing to your current difficulties, as well as valuing your lived experience and the realities of your life. I am thoughtful about which aspects of this approach are applicable to our world now and what might serve my clients.

I have experience working with a wide variety of situations and challenges, including bereavement, anxiety, depression, sex and relationship issues, low self-esteem, trauma, and family issues, including intergenerational trauma, sibling relationships, caring responsibilities, and parenting.

My practice is affirming and inclusive for LGBTQIA+  and neurodivergent clients.

I work face-to-face or online on a weekly basis with clients over 18 years old, both short-term and long-term. 

I am fully insured and DBS checked, and work in both private practice and the charity sector in a therapeutic role. I attend regular supervision as part of an ethical practice.

Recent training includes: How to Thrive with Adult ADHD, Working with Difference, Diversity & Anti-Oppressive Practice, Working Alongside Trans, Gender Diverse & Questioning People, and Trauma and the Role of Shame.

I welcome clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures and attend training on anti-oppressive practice. I work hard to continue my professional and personal development and am active in examining my privilege and power.

I am experienced in working with neurodivergent clients, regardless of whether you have a diagnosis or are wondering about this for yourself) and parents of neurodivergent children and adults. I am celebratory of different ways of thinking and being, while offering fidget toys, movement breaks, and exploration of sensory experiences.

My practice is affirming and inclusive for LGBTQIA+ clients, including various relationship structures and gender identities. 

I initially offer a free 20 minute phone call to see what you are looking for. 

If you would then like a first session, we can arrange a 50 minute session to see if we would like to work together longer term. 

Any information is welcome about how to work best with you as an individual, including sensory and communication preferences.

I can send pictures of rooms in advance of the first session if that is helpful.