Claire Kerby

My availability is good at the moment and I'm able to offer sessions face to face if you're in the Hereford area and comfortable with this. 

I also offer sessions virtually or over the phone, daytime or evening, at weekends or in your home/ workplace at the slightly higher rates.

My priority is my client. Each is unique with their own issues, and I draw on my experience and training to help them move forward with their lives to be the 'best possible version of themseles'.

Prior to focussing on counselling, I had a London based career for 25+ years in qualitative market research. Reaching the giddy heights of Board Director, this experience, and that of working internationally, means I have first-hand experiece of the stresses and strains of working in ambitious commercial environments.

As a counsellor, I love my work and see it as a real privilege gaining people's trust so that they feel comfortable talking to me. I'm extremely non-judgemental. As far as I'm concerned, we are all flawed and we all make mistakes. I've made many of my own, sometimes (but not always) through no fault of my own, and I'm certainly not going to tell you that you shouldn't have done x, said y, or thought z. What I will do is aim for us to have to have an open conversation where you can tell me about your stress, anxieties, hopes and fears as honestly as possible. 

Discussing these, the intention will be to find a way forward where you feel you can move forward with your life with confidence and contentment. It may not always be comfortable or straightforward, but there is a lot at stake: you, and your happiness.

I have a particular interest and experience in people who are feeling sad, lonely, maybe anxious, stressed or depressed. I speak to many too who have been angry or are still angry, possibly feeling life's against them and that they're not being treated fairly.

As far as I'm concerned, noone is born sad or angry. Something in their life has made them this way and it is my job with the client to uncover what has gone wrong and explore how this can be put right. It could be bereavement of some form, or maybe a recent event that is still on-going, or their issues may be as a result of things that have happened a long time back in the past. It doesn't matter. You are suffering and that's not good!

All sorts of things can lead to feelings of fear or anxiety, as if the ground has been pulled from under our feet. To make things worse, our friends may have heard our problems so many times they are losing interest.

Talking to a stranger such as myself who doesn't know you or your story can make you feel so, so much better. I will listen to you, listen some more and never, ever judge. Rather, I would find it a real privilege to hear your story and work alongside you, supporting you all the way, until you feel able to set off on your own. This may happen after one session with me, or it may take six months: I don't know, but I won't abandon you until you feel ready.

The first session will be free of charge, over the phone and last a maximum of 30 minutes.

In this session you will firstly give me a little background explaining what has prompted you to get in touch and why now / whether or not there has been a particular trigger. I would be interested in what you hope to get out of counselling (which you may not really know at this early stage). 

Second, I would talk a bit about myself, my training and credentials, and answer any questions you may have about me or in terms of what to expect from our sessions.

Third, we would talk about the practicalities of how we would work together (when, how often, and how), and how we would manage payments etc.

Finally, we would ascertain whether or not we feel we could work together in a way which would suit us both. This is important since the therapist/client relationship is critical to success - we don't want to start and later feel we can't stand the other person for some reason!