Counsellor profile
Claire Cotgrove, BACP
Counsellor - LGBT and trauma work
See online counselling options- Person centred therapy
- Trauma focused therapy
- Creative methods offered
About Claire
Counsellor Claire Cotgrove is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy member with three years' experience. She works with people on LGBT concerns, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related problems and ADHD. Sessions are held in the United Kingdom and are conducted in English.
Claire describes a person-centred way of working. She places the client's experience at the centre of sessions and listens without judgement. Conversations focus on what matters to the client. Creative methods may be offered when they suit the person's needs.
She also uses trauma-focused approaches when people have been through abuse or coercive relationships. That work looks at the effects of traumatic events and at practical ways to reduce distress in everyday life. The aim is to help people regain more control and clarity after difficult experiences.
Claire welcomes people who are exploring sexuality, gender or neurodivergence, and those coping with shame, guilt or loss. She also supports people dealing with chronic illness, family problems, communication breakdowns, or separation. Topics such as BDSM and kink, attachment and commitment issues are part of her practice when clients bring them up.
Sessions follow the client's pace. Claire helps people talk through feelings, name problems and consider options. The focus is on plain conversation and steady progress rather than technical labels or quick fixes.
To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Fees vary by location and are taken through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How her approaches are used in online counselling
Client-centred therapy means the counsellor follows the client's lead. Sessions focus on the person's concerns, feelings and choices. This approach helps when someone needs space to talk through identity, relationships or ongoing life stressors.Trauma-focused therapy looks directly at the effects of traumatic events and at ways to reduce everyday distress. That work often includes grounding exercises, pacing the conversation and creating steady steps to manage strong reactions. It can be helpful for people who have experienced abuse, coercive relationships or severe shocks.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss options with the client and decide together what fits best. This is a collaborative process that adapts as needs and goals change.
Confirm the exact session formats when booking, as these are not specified here. Online counselling can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by removing travel time, allowing sessions during a work break, or offering a shorter check-in when needed. Registered or accredited professionals often offer practical arrangements to suit clients' schedules.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with LGBT concerns, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues and ADHD. Many other topics are also supported when clients bring them up.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her main approach is person-centred counselling, focusing on the client's experience and what they bring to sessions. She also uses trauma-focused work for people affected by abuse or coercive relationships.
How long has she been practising?
She has three years of experience working as a counsellor.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP.
Do sessions take place in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
She is based in the United Kingdom and does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled?
Fees vary with location and are collected through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the first steps to start sessions?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.