Claire Payne, NCPS

Claire Payne is an NCPS registered Counsellor and Qualified Trainer who offers trauma-informed, person-centred support from her private practice in Torbay, Devon. She welcomes clients who are taking their first steps into therapy and aims to provide a steady, compassionate presence while people begin to heal.

Working in a flexible, integrative way, Claire draws on Person Centred, Gestalt and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches to tailor sessions to each person’s pace and style. She is also able to offer Sand Tray work when words are harder to find, providing alternative ways to explore feelings and experience. Claire sees clients for short-term and longer-term work depending on their needs.

Alongside clinical practice she brings a long background working within social care settings, and a depth of experience supporting people affected by early years trauma and other forms of traumatic experience. Her specialisms include workplace stress and burnout, compassion fatigue, domestic and sexual abuse, attachment difficulties, and a range of life transitions such as divorce and midlife challenges.

Claire works both face to face locally and remotely nationwide, and she aims to create practical, compassionate support for people dealing with family issues, self-esteem and career concerns, isolation, and the complex effects of trauma.

Practical approaches for online trauma and workplace stress

Claire uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical strategies to respond differently to stress and anxiety. CBT is often useful for managing workplace stress, low mood, and difficulties with impulse control.

Her Person Centred approach prioritises the client’s own perspective, offering a non-judgemental space where people can explore their feelings and build self-understanding. This way of working supports issues such as self-esteem, relationship and attachment concerns, and the emotional impact of life transitions.

Claire also offers Sand Tray work for those who find it hard to express difficult material in words, providing an alternative medium for exploration and expression. Choosing the right method is collaborative - Claire will work with each person to find the approaches that best fit their needs, goals and preferences, and she can adapt plans as therapy progresses.

Online therapy with registered professionals like Claire makes it easier to access consistent support through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. These options increase flexibility around scheduling and location, helping people maintain momentum in their healing while fitting therapy around work, family and other commitments.