WORK WITH ADULTS

Dr. Claire Hayes has over twenty five years experience of providing professional support to adults who wish to improve the quality of their lives. She helps them to understand their stressors (past and present) and to develop practical, effective strategies for change.  In helping people cope with a wide range of psychological issues, including anxiety and depression, Claire draws on the various training and experience she has gained to help people:

  1. Gently look at what is causing them distress
  2. Explore the meaning of this for them
  3. Focus on key steps they can take to develop resilience
  • Initial Meeting:
    Developing and maintaining a respectful and supportive relationship is at the core of Claire’s work. During an initial appointment she helps adults she is working with to put current challenges in context of their life story, to explore patterns of vulnerability and resilience and to focus specifically on what changes they choose to make to improve their situations.

    If it is appropriate Claire may use the ‘Coping Triangle’ process (© Hayes). This is based on cognitive behavioural principles and can be very helpful in facilitating people to explore their own feelings, thoughts, beliefs and actions in relation to their concerns as learning ways to help him or her cope. The session concludes with a focus on recommendations and people generally leave with practical suggestions.

  • Subsequent Meetings:

    As Claire’s style is primarily ‘psycho-educational’, her sessions last approximately 90 minutes. She usually recommends that adults meet with her three times over a two-month period with follow-up sessions if or as required. These provide an opportunity to review how things have been since the previous appointment, to identify key areas of concern and to focus on Claire can support individuals, couples and/or families to continue to make changes to improve the quality of their lives. The content of sessions vary according to the individual needs of people and may include cognitive behavioural principles, relaxation and/or visualisation methods to help people ‘take their power back’ from their fears and to build self-compassion and resilience.