Clare Merchant, BACP

Clare works mainly from a client-centred perspective, which means she focuses on listening and reflecting rather than directing. This approach helps when someone needs a supportive space to talk about stress, anxiety, depression or relationship concerns and to make sense of feelings at their own pace.

She also uses practical tools such as worksheets alongside conversation to identify patterns and small goals. Those tools are useful for tackling sleep problems, low self-esteem, grief and coping with life transitions because they turn broad worries into manageable steps.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Clare will talk with each person about what feels helpful and tailor sessions to their needs and preferences. Together they agree on goals and try methods that suit the person over time.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, which give flexibility for different schedules. Video calls work well for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions suit shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can be useful for ongoing reflections between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caring duties and travel.