Common Questions About Counselling
How Counselling May Help
How do I book a free 20-minute consultation?
You can reach out via email at clairekelly90@gmail.com or use the consultation calendar link on the site to book.
During this free consultation, we’ll talk about what has brought you here, answer any questions you may have, and explore whether working together feels right. There is no pressure or obligation to continue.
What happens during the counselling consultation?
This consultation offers space to talk about what has been difficult recently and explore the way I work. Together, we can discuss what kind of support may feel most helpful and whether counselling feels like the right next step.
The conversation is confidential, compassionate and entirely at your pace.
How long does the counselling process take?
Sessions are usually held weekly or fortnightly depending on your needs. After the initial six sessions, we pause to reflect on how things are going and decide together whether to conclude or continue.
Some people come for short-term support around a specific issue, while others choose longer-term therapeutic work.
What are the fees for counselling sessions?
Initial 20-minute consultation: Free
Counselling sessions: £45–£60 sliding scale
Sessions are available online across the UK or in person in Street, Somerset.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
My approach is integrative and trauma-informed. I draw from talk therapy, mindfulness, body awareness practices, DBT-informed tools, EFT and creative exploration where appropriate.
Sessions are adapted to your individual needs rather than following a fixed formula.
Is this approach safe for clients who’ve experienced trauma?
Yes. I work in a trauma-informed and body-aware way, with care taken to support emotional safety, grounding and choice throughout the process.
I hold an enhanced DBS, receive regular professional supervision and work within BACP ethical guidelines.
Is there a commitment to continue counselling after the initial six sessions?
No. The initial six sessions offer space to build trust, explore patterns and begin therapeutic work.
Any decision to continue is always collaborative and based on what feels right for you.
What’s your practice location and accessibility?
In-person sessions take place in a counselling space in Street, Somerset, around 10 minutes from Glastonbury. There is nearby parking and the practice is easily accessible from surrounding Somerset areas.
Online sessions are also available across the UK.
How do I know if you’re the right counsellor for me?
The free consultation is the best place to begin. It offers space to ask questions, get a sense of how I work and notice whether you feel comfortable, understood and safe enough to continue.
Do I need to commit to long-term counselling?
No. Some people come for short-term support around a specific issue, while others benefit from longer-term therapeutic work.
The process is collaborative and reviewed together regularly.
Common Reasons People Reach Out
How can counselling help with grief?
Grief can affect every part of life emotionally, physically and mentally. Counselling offers space to process loss safely, whether the grief is recent or connected to something much older.
Some people arrive feeling numb, overwhelmed, exhausted or unable to make sense of their emotions. Therapy can help you move at your own pace without pressure to “move on” before you are ready.
Can counselling help with anxiety and emotional overwhelm?
Yes. Anxiety can show up as overthinking, panic, tension, emotional exhaustion, difficulty sleeping or feeling constantly “on edge.”
Counselling can help you understand the patterns underneath these feelings and develop greater emotional regulation, self-awareness and stability.
What if I find it difficult to talk about my feelings?
Many people begin counselling unsure how to express what they are feeling. You do not need to arrive with everything explained clearly.
Sessions can move gently and at a pace that feels manageable. Silence, reflection and uncertainty are all welcome parts of the process.
Can counselling help if I feel emotionally stuck or lost?
Counselling is not only for crisis situations. Many people reach out during periods of transition, burnout, uncertainty or emotional disconnection.
Therapy can provide space to reflect, reconnect with yourself and explore what may be contributing to feeling stuck.
Can counselling help highly sensitive people?
Yes. Highly sensitive people often experience emotional intensity, overstimulation, deep empathy and difficulty feeling understood by others.
Claire works in a calm, relational and trauma-informed way that supports emotional safety, grounding and nervous system awareness.
Can counselling help with burnout and emotional exhaustion?
Yes. Burnout can feel like emotional numbness, exhaustion, irritability, overwhelm or losing connection with yourself.
Counselling offers space to slow down, understand what has been carrying too much pressure and begin rebuilding emotional balance and self-awareness.
Many people seek support when they realise they have been coping for too long on their own.
Can counselling help after a relationship breakdown?
Relationship difficulties, separation or emotional disconnection can affect confidence, identity and emotional wellbeing.
Counselling provides a confidential space to process difficult emotions, understand patterns and regain clarity during periods of change or loss.
Support can help whether the relationship has ended recently or continues to affect you emotionally.
Can counselling help during major life changes?
Periods of transition can affect emotional stability, identity and confidence, even when the change is expected.
People often seek counselling during experiences such as relationship breakdown, illness, becoming a carer, job loss, relocation or major shifts in family life.
Counselling offers space to process change safely and adjust at a pace that feels manageable.
Can counselling help if I feel lost or disconnected from myself?
Sometimes people reach a point where life no longer feels aligned, meaningful or emotionally connected.
You may feel uncertain about who you are, what you want or where your life is heading, even if things appear “fine” on the outside.
Counselling can provide space to slow down, reflect and reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been ignored, overwhelmed or buried beneath pressure and responsibility.
Can counselling support spiritual questioning or personal awakening?
Some people seek counselling during periods of deep personal questioning, emotional awakening or spiritual exploration.
Experiences that challenge your sense of identity, meaning or direction can sometimes feel confusing, isolating or emotionally intense.
Counselling offers a grounded and supportive space to explore these experiences safely, without judgement or pressure to define them in a particular way.
Can counselling help if I think I may be neurodivergent?
Some people begin questioning whether neurodiversity may help explain lifelong experiences of overwhelm, masking, sensitivity or feeling different from others.
Counselling can provide a supportive space to explore these patterns without judgement, whether you have a formal diagnosis or are simply beginning to reflect differently on yourself.
Therapy may help develop greater self-understanding, emotional regulation and self-acceptance.
Can counselling help when life suddenly changes direction?
Sometimes life changes not through collapse, but through sudden clarity, new direction or a strong sense that something needs to change.
These periods can feel exciting, overwhelming or emotionally disruptive, particularly when relationships, work or identity begin shifting quickly.
Counselling can help create grounding, reflection and emotional balance during periods of intense personal change.
Can counselling help during menopause or perimenopause?
Many women experience emotional, physical and identity changes during perimenopause and menopause. Anxiety, overwhelm, low mood, exhaustion, loss of confidence, irritability or a sense of disconnection from yourself can all become more intense during this time.
Counselling offers space to process these changes compassionately and without judgement. Therapy can help you understand what you are experiencing emotionally, reconnect with yourself and find steadiness during a major life transition.
You do not need to be “falling apart” to seek support. Many people simply want help navigating change in a more grounded and supported way.
Can counselling help after illness or major health changes?
Experiencing illness, recovery or changes in health can affect emotional wellbeing as much as physical wellbeing. Many people experience anxiety, grief, exhaustion, identity changes or uncertainty after periods of illness or medical treatment.
Counselling offers space to process what has happened emotionally and adjust to changes in your life, relationships or sense of self at your own pace.