Space for Yourself

Meet Clare Byrne

Hi, I am Clare Byrne (Dr Clare Byrne C.Psychol. MBACP), my background is in psychology, where I have six years, of experience working in research and teaching, and six years, of experience working in forensic settings. I continue to practice as a forensic psychologist.

I completed a 3 year Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling with the Belfast Metropolitan College.

I am a full member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the British Psychological Society.

Approach to Counselling Practice

I take an integrative approach to counselling. This means that I draw on theories and skills from a range of different approaches in a coordinated way when working with counselling clients.

The main approach that informs my work is the person-centred approach to counselling. This means I believe that all people have the capacity to grow and develop in positive ways, and that the most important part of counselling is the experience of working with someone in a relationship where you are completely and genuinely accepted and valued as you are. I also draw on ideas and strategies from other counselling approaches too. For example, I have training and experience in the area of cognitive-behavioural therapy and I draw on this approach where appropriate in work with clients.

I have training and experience in a range of areas through my practice as a Counsellor and as a Psychologist. But in real life, people are much more than any one issue, experience, or pattern of thinking. And this is how I approach counselling: from the point of view that every client is a whole person to be valued as they are, no matter what is going on for them.

Each person has their own unique needs and expectations of counselling. I aim to work alongside each client, supporting and enabling them to work through their difficulties in a way that suits them. At the same time, I am true to myself by bringing my own unique skills and personality into the counselling relationship too.

Ethical and Professional Practice

Regular professional supervision ensures that my counselling work is of a high standard and will meet my clients' needs in the most appropriate way for them.

Regular evaluation and feedback ensures that I am well informed about how well I am meeting my clients' needs and that I can keep on improving what I do.

My counselling work is guided by the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling and Psychotherapy (http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/).

This framework aims to make sure that all counsellors work to a high professional standard, respecting the rights and working to promote the wellbeing of people who seek help from counsellors and psychotherapists.

I also work to the British Psychological Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct (http://www.bps.org.uk/the-society/code-of-conduct/code-of-conduct_home.cfm).