Claire Hinton

I offer a range of face to face appointments in Glengormley, as well as online appointments, and 'walk and talk' appointments upon request. 

My hours vary, offering day time, evening and weekend appointments. 

I am an integrative counsellor and founder of Clarus Counselling and Wellbeing. I offer a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can be yourself without needing to explain, perform, or stay strong for others. My aim is to help you feel heard, understood and safe enough to explore whatever has brought you to therapy.

I work integratively, meaning I draw from different therapeutic approaches depending on your needs. My work is influenced by person-centred values, psychodynamic understanding and practical CBT tools. This allows us to explore both the deeper roots of your difficulties and the day-to-day strategies that can help you cope and move forward.

Therapy with me is collaborative and paced around you. Some clients come wanting to understand their past, others want help managing anxiety, low mood or relationship difficulties in the present. Often, it is a mixture of both. Together, we can look at patterns, experiences and emotions that may be keeping you stuck, and begin to build new ways of responding to yourself and your life.

Clients often describe me as warm, grounded and genuine. I do not believe therapy needs to feel clinical or intimidating. Instead, I aim to create a space that feels human, safe and supportive, where meaningful change can begin.

I provide individual counselling for adults and young people aged 13+. I have experience supporting people with a wide range of issues including anxiety, low mood, grief and loss, trauma and abuse, self-esteem difficulties, relationship problems and life transitions.

My approach is relational and client-led. This means I work at your pace and focus on what feels most important to you. You do not need to have everything worked out before coming to counselling. Sometimes it is enough to know that something does not feel right and that you want things to change.

In sessions, we may explore thoughts, feelings, memories and patterns of behaviour to help you make sense of what you are experiencing. Where helpful, I also offer practical tools and coping strategies to support you outside of sessions. Therapy is not only about understanding why things feel difficult, but also about learning how to live in a way that feels more balanced, authentic and manageable.

I aim to offer a space where you can put down the “mask” and speak openly about what is going on for you, without fear of judgement. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, unsure of yourself or simply in need of somewhere to talk, I will meet you with care, respect and compassion.

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and for you to decide whether counselling with me feels right for you. I understand that starting therapy can feel daunting, so I aim to make this session as welcoming and supportive as possible.

In the first session, I complete a full client assessment. This helps me gain a clearer understanding of what has brought you to counselling at this time, what you are currently struggling with and what you hope to gain from therapy. It also gives us time to begin building rapport and to talk about how counselling works, including confidentiality and boundaries.

You do not need to prepare anything in advance or have the “right words.” We will go at your pace, and you are in control of what you choose to share. There is no pressure to talk about anything you are not ready for.

The first session is also your chance to ask any questions you may have about therapy or about how I work. By the end of the session, we can decide together whether to continue working together and what your ongoing sessions might look like.