Clare Payne

Clare Payne is a BACP-registered counsellor based in the United Kingdom with four years' experience. She works with people who are feeling stuck or unsure about what comes next, including concerns such as career doubts, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, parenting pressures and questions about identity. Clare lists life purpose among her areas of focus and helps clients think through what matters now and next.

Her starting point is a client-centred approach. Sessions are led by what matters to the person on the day. Early meetings focus on what brought someone to therapy and what they hope to get from it, and on checking whether the practical fit feels right.

As the work continues, Clare may draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-based ideas and psychodynamic thinking to look at recurring patterns and unhelpful habits. She also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused elements to help people identify small, manageable steps toward goals. Conversations aim to be direct and practical, clarifying values and actions rather than only analysing feelings.

Sessions are 45 minutes long and the first few are used to map out priorities and set the pace. Clare’s background includes a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Coaching from the University of East London plus earlier courses in person-centred counselling and life coaching. This range supports flexible work with common life and workplace dilemmas.

People who come because they feel emptier than expected after a life change, who want clearer direction at work, or who struggle with intimacy and attachment often find the focus helpful. She asks clients to consider practical next steps alongside reflecting on how past patterns keep repeating.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thinking and choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for people wrestling with career doubts, anxiety or low motivation. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in close relationships and how early bonds influence current intimacy and trust. It helps when someone repeatedly experiences the same relational problems. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on following what feels most important to the client each session, giving space to identify priorities and make decisions at a manageable pace.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. Clare will work with the client to identify what fits best based on concerns, goals and personal preference. That collaboration helps shape whether the work leans more towards values and action, relational patterning, or gentle person-led exploration.

Confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as they are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work and family life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Different approaches adapt well to remote work - ACT techniques and motivational interviewing suit focused goal-setting sessions, while attachment and client-centred work can be slowed down or paced differently to suit a remote conversation. Ask about the available formats when you book so sessions can be scheduled to fit day-to-day life.