Claire Donaghey

I work on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Well done for making it here. It's courageous to take this step. I want to create a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space for you. My goal is to listen to you with empathy; understand your unique perspective, and work together to explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Whether you're facing a specific challenge or simply need someone to talk to, I'm here to help you navigate through it with understanding and compassion. You're not alone, and every step you take toward healing and growth is important. Let's start this journey together. 

As a pluralistic counsellor, I deeply value collaboration and justice, prioritising a non-judgmental, empowering environment where each individual feels heard and respected. My approach is flexible, drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities such as person-centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, Gestalt therapy, and Transactional Analysis (TA). This allows me to tailor my methods to best suit each client's unique needs and personal circumstances. In my practice, I prioritise creating a strong, collaborative therapeutic relationship that encourages growth, self-reflection, and healing. I believe in the importance of addressing both the immediate challenges and the deeper emotional patterns that may be at the root of distress. Through empathy, active listening, and evidence-based techniques, I work with clients to explore their thoughts, behaviours, and feelings, empowering them to make positive, lasting changes while advocating for justice and fairness throughout the process.

You are in control before; during and after therapy.

In the first session, we create a safe, welcoming space to contract and get to know one another. This initial meeting is about building trust and understanding, as we explore your concerns, hopes, and expectations for therapy. We’ll discuss how the counselling process works, outlining a clear plan for the journey ahead and the approaches we might use together. It’s important to me that you feel comfortable, so we’ll take time to ensure your needs and preferences are heard. We’ll set collaborative goals to work towards, focusing on what matters most to you. This session is also a chance to reflect on any immediate concerns and begin laying the groundwork for deeper work in future sessions. The aim is to establish a strong foundation, where we can work together to create meaningful, positive change at your pace. You’ll leave the session with a sense of direction and a clearer understanding of how we can proceed on this path together.