Clare Merchant, BACP

Clare Merchant works from a client-centred approach that puts the person at the heart of therapy. She aims to listen without judgement and to respond with empathy and warmth. Clare has three years of counselling experience and she draws on practical tools to help people make change.

She meets people where they are and gently explores what matters most to them. Clare uses worksheets and structured discussion to identify patterns that affect wellbeing. Together the therapist and client set clear goals and map small steps towards them.

Common themes Clare addresses include stress, anxiety, low self‑esteem and depression. She also supports people dealing with grief, relationship strain, parenting challenges, addictions and sleep problems. Work can cover career concerns, anger, coping with life changes and compassion fatigue.

Additional areas Clare focuses on include abandonment issues, blended family difficulties, body image, eating and food-related concerns, fertility and fatherhood issues. She also offers support around ageing and caregiver strain, cancer-related concerns, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, and first responder stress.

Clare is a BACP counsellor, which means she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She offers sessions in English and accepts international clients. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

How a client‑centred approach adapts to online therapy

Client‑centred therapy focuses on listening, empathy and helping people find their own solutions. In practice this means the counsellor reflects what the person says, asks open questions and supports the client to set their own goals. This approach suits issues like anxiety, depression, relationship strain and coping with life changes because it helps people feel heard and understood.

Clare also uses worksheets and structured discussion as part of her sessions. These hands‑on tools help break problems into manageable parts and make progress easier to track. Together the therapist and client review those tools and adapt them so they work well in the client's everyday life.

Finding the right way of working is part of therapy. Clare will collaborate with each person to choose approaches that match their needs and preferences. She will check in about what helps and change methods when something isn’t working so sessions remain practical and person focused.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving or travel, reduce commuting time and offer quieter surroundings for focused conversation. It can also allow shorter check‑ins when a full session is not needed, helping therapy fit into a busy life.