Claire McPhail Counselling & Psychotherapy Services

15/04/2026

Understanding trauma and breaking generational cycles is crime prevention. It’s disease prevention. If we start building a society where children grow up with secure attachment, we’d live in a drastically different world.

Insecurity causes so many problems and issues in our culture.

But we also have to name the gifts.

Human beings are resilient. Every single one of us experiences trauma in life to some degree. All of us get hurt. All of us feel pain. To live means suffering none of us escape.

But one pattern is also clear: people with extremely difficult childhood develops skills, awareness, and pattern recognition that can be channeled in incredible ways.

It can become resourcefulness, creativity, and wisdom other people don’t have access to.

This doesn’t negate the impact of trauma on mind, body and soul. It just means there is so much potential within you. And learning how to work with it, channel it, and use it for the greater good is available to all of us.

Don’t forget your gifts

14/04/2026

I’ve renewed my professional membership with the BACP for the next year, so clients can be reassured my training and practice meet their quality standards.

11/04/2026

Today is World Breathing Day! As a Somatic Trauma Therapist and Breathwork facilitator, my therapeutic work often incorporates breathing practices. Breathing techniques can be a great way to ground, regulate or energise, and evidence shows the breath can support trauma recovery.

07/04/2026

03/04/2026

Wishing a happy Easter to those who celebrate. I’ll be away from the office over the bank holiday weekend and will reply to any messages when I return on Tuesday.

03/04/2026

Jodi, 23, is dating Mark. 5 months in to their relationship, they spend most of their time together. Jodi is crazy about mark but she does notice his insecurity.

It starts when she mentions a co-worker and Mark asks if she ever had feelings for him. When she says no, he presses her harder not taking her word for it.

At a friend’s wedding, Mark notices her talking to someone and accuses her of flirting. “You would never know you have a boyfriend.” Mark says.

One day she’s late to meet him. “Where have you been?” He asks. His voice has changed. She can feel his anger. “I’ve been in traffic.” Jodi says. “Are you SURE you were in traffic?” Jodi is confused and caught off guard. “Let me see your phone” Mark says.

When Jodi hesitates, he is more upset. “Now I know you’re lying to me.” Her heart beats faster as she realizes he’s accusing her of something she didn’t do. She starts to defend herself telling him she was by herself in traffic on the way home from work. She starts to reassure him and promise him she’s honest. That she loves him.

What Jodi doesn’t understand is Marks accusations are a confession.

He assumes she is just like him. He assumes anyone he dates is like him: dishonest and disloyal.

Jodi and Mark date for almost a year before she ends the relationship. One day she’s making dinner and Mark was in the shower. As she puts dinner in the oven, she walks over to the couch where his phone’s sitting. It lights up with “I need to see you again. I miss you.” Her stomach hits the floor.

It’s Mark who lies and Mark who hides.

Pay attention to projections, that’s where you’ll find the deepest truths most people don’t want to admit

20/03/2026

I wasn’t able to attend this online conference live today, as I was busy with client work, but I’m really looking forward to catching up with some of the sessions later, especially those around the roles of sound, movement, and breathwork in trauma recovery.

15/03/2026

Thinking of those of us who find Mother’s Day difficult.