Claire Ratcliffe: Psychotherapist, Supervisor & Couples Therapist

19/07/2025

Long distance relationships can be deeply loving and incredibly hard. That’s why online therapy can be so powerful for couples navigating distance as part of their relationship.

💻 Whether you’re in different cities, countries, or just experiencing a lot of time apart (for work purposes etc) online sessions mean you can:

✔️ Access support together .. wherever you are
✔️ Build emotional closeness, even when you’re physically apart
✔️ Work on communication in real time
✔️ Find new ways to feel connected, supported, and secure

Online therapy is a bridge for long distance couples. So many of the couples I work with have long distance relationships. Some sessions they are in the same room together and others they join on separate screens. Online therapy gives so many options.

Are you a therapist working with couples online? Do you work with couples and relationships who are long distance?

📩www.claireratcliffepsychotherapy.co.uk


’sConnection

16/07/2025

Differentiation is about being able to stay connected to others while staying true to yourself.
It’s the ability to hold onto your values, feelings, thoughts, desires and identity… even when someone you care about sees things differently.

In relationships, this means:

✨You can disagree without disconnecting.

✨You can hold your ground without becoming defensive.

✨You can love someone deeply and still have boundaries.

Differentiation is a skill we build over time, and it’s key to healthy, mature relationships.

It’s something I talk about often with clients. It’s something that I feel is a core component in couples and relationship therapy. A few months ago, I delivered some CPD training with the Counselling Tutor on couples & relationship therapy using the developmental model where the subject of differentiation was the main focus because of how important it is in relationship work… In all of our work.

15/07/2025

My copy arrived this morning of ‘Transactional Analysis The Basics’ by Mark Widdowson.. a book he completed only days before he sadly passed away.

Mark was such a passionate, influential figure in the Transactional Analysis community.
His dedication to making TA accessible and meaningful for practitioners and clients has had a lasting impact.
Mark was such a vibrant, funny, and down to earth person.. full of warmth and humour.

It feels incredibly poignant to be reading his final work, knowing how much care and intention he poured into it.
I’m grateful for everything he contributed to our field, and this book feels like a parting gift to those of us who continue to learn, reflect, and grow in our practice.

Marks legacy lives on in the work we do, the clients we support, and the curiosity and passion he inspired in so many of us. 💛

14/07/2025

“Intimacy is not the same as closeness. Intimacy is knowing who you are and letting someone else know it too.”
~ David Schnarch

I remember reading this in his book ‘A Passionate Marriage’ many years ago and it’s still a book I refer back to now.

So often, we confuse merging with intimacy.
But true intimacy doesn’t require sameness.
It asks for something deeper ….a clear sense of self in the presence of someone who deeply matters to you.

💬 In my work (and my training in the Developmental Model), this concept is foundational.
We’re not trying to erase difference… we’re learning to tolerate it, stay regulated through it, and show up as whole people in our relationships.

💛 Knowing your values
💛 Expressing your true experience
💛 Letting your partner(s) see the real you .. even when it feels risky

That’s where intimacy lives.

If you’re a therapist, client, or couple working through the tension between autonomy and connection, this model may be one that works for you.

12/07/2025

💬 What do you find most difficult when working with couples?

Couples work can be incredibly rich and rewarding but also complex.
Even the most experienced therapists can feel stuck when emotions escalate, dynamics flip unexpectedly, or communication breaks down mid-session.

It’s not always easy to know how (or when) to intervene, especially when both clients are hurting in different ways and you’re holding the space and tension with them.

Couples & relationship supervision offers space to reflect, untangle tricky dynamics, and feel more resourced in the work without rushing to solutions.

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone.

💭 What do you find most challenging in couples work?

07/07/2025

🌀 Group Supervision for Therapists Working with Couples, Intimacy & S*x 🌀

Are you a therapist supporting couples through the complexities of intimacy, connection, and s*xuality?

Join a small, reflective online supervision group designed for therapists who want to deepen their clinical skills, gain fresh perspectives, and feel more resourced in this rich and nuanced area of work.

👥 What to Expect:

✨ A supportive space to explore clinical challenges

✨ Insightful discussions on desire, attachment, boundaries, s*xual dynamics & more

✨ A focus on intersectionality, LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, and ethical practice

✨ Ongoing professional development with like-minded peers

📍 Online | Monthly | Limited spaces | £85pp per session.

🧠 Suitable for qualified therapists or those in advanced training

📩 DM me or email claireratcliffetherapy@gmail.com for more information.

Website: www.claireratcliffepsychotherapy.co.uk

*xTherapy

05/07/2025

You shouldn’t have to earn safety in a relationship…

If you’re constantly anticipating their reactions, tiptoeing around their moods, apologising for things you didn’t even do … That’s emotional survival.

Healthy love doesn’t keep you on edge. It doesn’t make you shrink yourself. It lets you breathe, feel seen, and be loved just as you are.

As a therapist, I often hear clients describe relationships where they feel like they’re walking on eggshells, monitoring their words, anticipating reactions, and blaming themselves for someone else’s behaviour.

In a safe relationship, you don’t have to think five steps ahead just to feel okay. You don’t have to apologise for things you didn’t do, or fear that being your full self will cost you someone’s affection.

03/07/2025

🌀 Group Supervision for Therapists Working with Couples & Relationships

Working with couples, s*x & relationships can be incredibly rich and also uniquely challenging.
This group supervision space is designed for therapists who want to deepen their relational thinking, feel supported in the emotional complexity of the work, and grow alongside others doing similar practice.

This Group Supervision is for you if you’re looking to:

🌿 Explore relational, systemic, and psychos*xual theory in action

🧠 Think critically and compassionately with theory

🌿 Feel supported and less isolated in your practice

🌈 Join a community that affirms diverse relationships and identities

🧠 Gain insight into clinical dilemmas and stuck points

💬 Share the emotional load of the work in a supportive space

📚 Deepen your integration of theory, self, and practice.

If you’re looking for a collaborative, affirming space to think relationally and work with theory in practice, this group is for you.

✨ Open to qualified therapists and advanced trainees working with couples in any modality.

As a supervisor, I bring 13 years experience in s*x and relationship therapy, along with a commitment to trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming, and s*x-positive practice.

📍 Held online – accessible wherever you are

⏰ Duration: 2.5-3 hours per month.

Fee: £85pp

If you’re interested in joining, please email claireratcliffetherapy@gmail.com

*xTherapy

02/07/2025

💬 Struggling to reconnect as a couple?

A Couples Therapy Intensive might be the reset you need.

Unlike weekly sessions, a Couples Intensive offers focused, extended time to:

❤️ Get to the root of recurring conflicts

🧠 Understand patterns keeping you stuck

💬 Improve communication and emotional connection

🔧 Learn practical tools you can start using right away

🌱 Rebuild trust and strengthen your bond

This isn’t a temporary solution—it’s in-depth therapeutic support designed to create real, long lasting change.

👉 Ideal for couples who:

• Feel stuck in the same argument pattern

• Are recovering from a rupture or betrayal

• Want to reconnect quickly and effectively

• Can’t commit to weekly therapy due to schedules

📍Held online and tailored to your specific goals.

💡 Leave with clarity, connection, and a clear path forward.

Curious if it’s right for you and your partner?

📩 DM me or visit the therapy page in my bio for more information.

28/06/2025

25/06/2025

22/06/2025

Every time you choose self-compassion, you offer healing to the child within. The wounds of your childhood aren’t your fault, but the healing is your gift to yourself.