Clare Ducker

Face to face in Central Exeter - A quiet private room in central Exeter. Available on Wednesday afternoons and evenings.

Face to face in Bridport - A quiet private room in St Micheals Lane in central Bridport. Available on Tuesday afternoons and evenings.

Online - Monday evenings,Tuesday and Wednesday mornings It is important that you are somewhere that you feel comfortable to talk openly.

Welcome to my counselling practice, offering integrative therapy for adults and young people in Exeter, Bridport and online. My approach is warm and collaborative, thoughtful and compassionate, informed by life experience and my dedication to healing. As a trauma-informed practitioner, I prioritise building a strong therapeutic alliance and ensuring that you get the support you need in a manner and pace which feel right for you.

Reaching out for help and sharing with a stranger can feel daunting - a feeling I remember well! My invitation is into a friendly and calm atmosphere, where your experiences can be explored freely and without haste. You will find a safe and confidential space where your thoughts and feelings are heard with respect and without judgement. Getting to know you by listening attentively to your sharing of your life and challenges, of the ways they express outwardly and are experienced inwardly, will help me understand what you need from the process of therapy. In turn, you are welcome to ask questions about my approach and relevant experience. We can then reflect together whether I am the right fit for you.

Since adults and young people are at different points in their lives, they often require unique considerations and therapy strategies. Adults might seek help with handling complex responsibilities, navigating relationships, dealing with career-related stress, coping with grief or trauma, or managing existential issues. On the other hand, young people and adolescents frequently experience peer pressure, academic challenges, self-discovery, and family dynamics. For some, regulating emotions like anxiety and anger in today’s world can be especially difficult. I have experience of working with both.

My training and experience enable me to draw from various therapeutic approaches to best meet the needs of each of my clients, and sessions may include dialogue, psychoeducation, CBT techniques, enactments, creative expression and only if you wish. Sometimes, we may work pragmatically, focusing on immediate action. Other times, we might delve into deeper aspects of your journey. Every part of your experience is honoured and held with care, and you decide where you would like therapy to go.

Foremost, I am a relational therapist: I believe that most psychological wounding occurs relationally, and that healing is therefore inherently a relational endeavour. Difficult patterns of relating to self and other often reflect in the therapeutic space and in this way, the therapeutic relationship can be an opportunity for learning. If the therapeutic process brings up shame, anger, discomfort or other difficult emotions, I aim to hold a space where you can experience those feelings safely, without fear of reprisal or judgement, and where we can explore them in the room together, so that new possibilities may emerge.

Alongside acknowledging your pain, we will uncover your inner strength and resources, taking confident steps toward identifying the elements that enrich your life and help you embrace all parts of yourself. I believe that no matter the hardship and suffering - we all have access to a source of inner wisdom and creativity, and an innate power to fundamentally re-imagine our life, and way of being.

If the above resonates, do not hesitate to contact me for an initial contact to arrange a first session. I look forward to meeting you! 

Face to face in Central Exeter - A quiet private room on the first floor of the Margaret Jackson Centre. Available Wednesday afternoons and evenings.

Face to face in Bridport - A quiet private room on the first floor of Mountfield. Available Tuesday afternoons and evenings.

Online - please ask for my availability, I can be flexible.

Welcome to my counselling practice, offering integrative therapy for adults and young people in Exeter, Bridport and online. My approach is warm and collaborative, thoughtful and compassionate, informed by life experience and my dedication to healing. As a trauma-informed practitioner, I prioritise building a strong therapeutic alliance and ensuring that you get the support you need in a manner and pace which feel right for you.

Reaching out for help and sharing with a stranger can feel daunting - a feeling I remember well! My invitation is into a friendly and calm atmosphere, where your experiences can be explored freely and without haste. You will find a safe and confidential space where your thoughts and feelings are heard with respect and without judgement. Getting to know you by listening attentively to your sharing of your life and challenges, of the ways they express outwardly and are experienced inwardly, will help me understand what you need from the process of therapy. In turn, you are welcome to ask questions about my approach and relevant experience. We can then reflect together whether I am the right fit for you.

Since adults and young people are at different points in their lives, they often require unique considerations and therapy strategies. Adults might seek help with handling complex responsibilities, navigating relationships, dealing with career-related stress, coping with grief or trauma, or managing existential issues. On the other hand, young people and adolescents frequently experience peer pressure, academic challenges, self-discovery, and family dynamics. For some, regulating emotions like anxiety and anger in today’s world can be especially difficult. I have experience of working with both.

My training and experience enable me to draw from various therapeutic approaches to best meet the needs of each of my clients, and sessions may include dialogue, psychoeducation, CBT techniques, enactments, creative expression and only if you wish. Sometimes, we may work pragmatically, focusing on immediate action. Other times, we might delve into deeper aspects of your journey. Every part of your experience is honoured and held with care, and you decide where you would like therapy to go.

Foremost, I am a relational therapist: I believe that most psychological wounding occurs relationally, and that healing is therefore inherently a relational endeavour. Difficult patterns of relating to self and other often reflect in the therapeutic space and in this way, the therapeutic relationship can be an opportunity for learning. If the therapeutic process brings up shame, anger, discomfort or other difficult emotions, I aim to hold a space where you can experience those feelings safely, without fear of reprisal or judgement, and where we can explore them in the room together, so that new possibilities may emerge.

Alongside acknowledging your pain, we will uncover your inner strength and resources, taking confident steps toward identifying the elements that enrich your life and help you embrace all parts of yourself. I believe that no matter the hardship and suffering - we all have access to a source of inner wisdom and creativity, and an innate power to fundamentally re-imagine our life, and way of being.

If the above resonates, do not hesitate to contact me to arrange a first session. I look forward to meeting you! 

I offer the first session at a reduced price of £25 for 50 minutes. Our first session will be exploring what has brought you to therapy, what your best hopes are and to see if we are a good enough fit. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions. If we decide to work together, we will sign contracts and begin forming our therapeutic relationship. I suggest meeting weekly for the first few sessions, we can then review and see what suits you best.