Claire Holmes

I am available for face-to-face sessions with children, young people and young adults from 4pm on Mondays in Longfield, Kent DA3.

I also offer online or telephone sessions for young people of secondary school age until age 25 on other weekday evenings from 5pm and have limited availability on Saturday mornings.

I mostly work term time only.

I am a person-centred counsellor working creatively and exclusively with children, young people and young adults.

I work in a client led way exploring my clients difficult experiences and life challenges with them, using the creative arts.  I appreciate that some young people and adults may prefer to just talk, and we can work this way too.  Either way I offer a confidential and judgement free space while listening to my clients and being beside them as they share their life with me.

I have personal and professional experience of working with neurodivergent clients, those with attachment difficulties or traumatic life experiences, school avoidance issues, loss and bereavement, depression and anxiety alongside friendships and family conflicts.  

I work with openness, compassion and care to help my clients gain an understanding of their life, themself, relationships and experiences.  I work to understand their perspective to help empower them to make the changes they want in life.

In addition to my experience as a counsellor I have a history of 15 years working with children, parents and families in a supportive and therapeutic role in primary schools.  I have also worked in voluntary youth services.  Through my school role my training  has involved The Thrive Approach (similar to ELSA) to support both children and parents which enables me to offer psychoeducation to my clients; this is particularly useful for young people to understand such areas as big emotions and anxiety.  I am also a qualified Drawing and Talking Practitioner.  I have experience and knowledge of the SEND and EHCP systems within schools in Kent, particularly with regard to ADHD and autism which .  

Through this knowledge, my experiences and my core counselling training I am confidently able to support parents as their child navigates counselling with me.

I hold an enhanced DBS check and undertake regular safeguarding training for working with children and adults.  I am also paediatric First Aid trained.

I work from a confidential room in a local primary school after school hours.  Here I offer creative materials, games, sand play and space for children and young people to express themselves and process their difficult feelings and life experiences.  

I also work online or the telephone with young people and young adults from secondary school age to age 25.

For children I am able to offer regular parent reviews, in discussion with, and the with consent of the child.  

After your initial contact I require a brief assessment form to be completed alongside my offer of a free 20 minute introductory call to discuss your requirements and to discover if we feel we can work together and this may be enough.

If it transpires that a more in depth conversation needs to take place to fully communicate your needs and to understand how I could work with your child or young person then this can be arranged.  This time is flexible and is charged at my usual rate of £50 per 50 minutes.