Therapy in Preston with Claire Law

04/03/2026

🏆What's worth celebrating today?
👍What's gone well?
🏅Where have you made a difference?

✅Remembering to celebrate the small wins, and give yourself a dose of validation can help if you're someone who finds self-criticism and blame and shame comes easy to you.

👍Today, I give myself a "thumbs up" for keeping on top of my admin.

🏆I hope there's something you can celebrate about yourself today. And if not, tomorrow is a new day.

💻If you like the concept of "celebrating the small wins", you might like the short blog I wrote on this theme. Check it out here: https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/no-fuss-anxiety-tips-20-celebrate-mini-wins?rq=mini

25/02/2026

💞Attachment theory aims to describe the different ways and patterns we show up in relationships. Our adult attachment patterns have a lot to do with the attachments we formed as a child. I like this graphic, which helps to make the 4 Attachment Styles easy to digest.

💻If you want something that explores attachment patterns in more detail, check out my blog series on attachment: https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/2023/01/11/attachment-and-the-need-to-belong

20/02/2026

18/02/2026

😪😫Burnout can creep up on us. Burnout is the result of being overextended for too long, without enough support.

⚠🚧People at higher risk of burnout include:
👉People working in caring type roles, sometimes called "high touch" professions such as teachers, classroom assistants, medical staff, social workers, etc.
👉Neurodivergent people, who feel the impact of the long-term, unsustainable effort of masking and navigating a world designed for neurotypical brains.
👉People who have significant challenges in their personal life, such as caring for a loved one who is poorly.

👀Recognising you might be at risk of burnout and putting in place strategies to help avoid burnout can help.

💻If you're interested in reading more about burnout, including the role of therapy for people facing or recovering from butnout, check out one of my blogs on the theme:
https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/2021/08/05/what-is-burnout

13/02/2026

😳Occassionally my tummy rumbles when I am with a client, or I look down and realise I have spilt my lunch on my top. Embarrasing!

❎🤖In these moments, I try to remember that I am human, and not a robot! Thank goodness for that. It is my human-ness which is so important to my work. The ability to meet another human, and listen and connect with them on a human level can be transformative.

💻I can see how ChatGPT and other AI tools can be helpful when people are struggling with their mood, or feeling overwhelmed by something. GhatGPT can offer empathic type statements that help to gain a sense of perspective. And, I am still glad that I am a human, and bring my own human-ness to my work. I am glad I can offer human connection to people in distress.

10/02/2026

👋Hello, I'm Claire - an experienced Preston-based psychotherapist working with adults struggling with anxiety, grief, childhood trauma and burnout.
I specialize in working with Autistic and ADHD adults, and currently have some availability for new clients on Wednesdays and Fridays.

💻My website has plenty of information about the type of support I offer and includes the option to book a free no-pressure 20-minutes phone call to chat through what you might be looking for from counselling. Do get in touch if you have any questions.

https://www.freetobecounselling.org/

✅ British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy Senior Accredited.
🌿Semi-rural location, close to the Guild Wheel.
🚗Free on-site parking
📱Free no-obligation 20-mins phone or video intro call
✅ Full enhanced DBS cleared and insured

06/02/2026

I enjoyed this short blog exploring what helps to make therapy accessible for autistic adults.

https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/blogs/2026/blogs-and-vlogs/19-january-making-therapy-safe-for-autistic-adults-one-pair-of-shoes-at-a-time/?_cldee=3TrCewJfcFa1lIcmyBAEiQhKATEbI0rB5Y-rDcytV0ujtSRwEE_TTieaU4c_zNQB&recipientid=contact-26edcd79a7c8e81181283863bb351d40-aaf467aa9e3249198904d0a52c7539a2&esid=9ef32be7-af02-f111-8407-000d3abae7dc

Neuroaffirming practice is at the heart of my therapeutic work. Here's my own blog on the subject: https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/what-is-neuroaffirming-counselling?rq=neuroaffirming

Zoe McFarlane identifies how to engage and empower autistic clients

04/02/2026

Feeling feelings is central to my work. I see feelings as pleasant and unpleasant, rather than "good" or "bad". In my work, my intention is to make space for us to listen to all the feelings with acceptance and curiosity.

It's a strange society that we live in, where we assume that if someone is distressed by distressing events, distressing life circumstances, or distressing , there is something wrong with them – they are 'ill'.

Read more: https://www.carolynspring.com/blog/distress-is-not-illness

04/02/2026

I recently saw the film "Hamnet" - which tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. What a moving depiction of the rawness of grief, and I felt it showcased how different people respond and react to loss, in their own way. Plenty of tissues needed for me 😭

"She was what I understand a woman to be", says Buckley on playing Shakespeare's wife and the mother of their son Hamnet.

29/01/2026

🌱Spring is on its way. Spotted these buds on the tree yesterday close to my counselling room. What a 💙 sky!

20/01/2026

😓Like many people, I don't always find change easy. When I'm facing change and finding it tough, I often call to mind the quote "to live is to change".

💡It's important to my psychotherapy practice to remember that change can be positive, and that the work of therapy involves change. It's good to remember that we can and do change as humans, and that we can change unhelpful ways of relating to ourselves and to others.

💻This blog reflects my thoughts on how change can and does show up in therapy: https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/change-is-possible

If you are interested in exploring your own experience of change, or looking to make changes to patterns of relating to yourself and others, I have some current limited availability for new clients. Get in touch via my website if you'd like to find out more.
https://www.freetobecounselling.org/contact

16/01/2026

🆕This week, Mattel unveiled their Autistic Barbie doll. Features include a loose hair style accented by noise-canceling headphones to reflect the challenges autistic folk can experience around fine motor skills and sensory sensitivity. Whilst the doll may help to foster representation and inclusion, as the motto goes, "if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person...."

💬In my counselling work, I aim to meet each person as a unique individual. I offer neuroaffirming counselling and attending to a client's individual needs is part of this.

💻If you want to know more, check out my blog on neuroaffirming counselling:
https://www.freetobecounselling.org/blog/what-is-neuroaffirming-counselling

💻You can also check out my listing on the Autistic Therapists Directory:
https://www.autistictherapistdirectory.com/uk-autistic-therapists/claire-law