My Approach

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PRACTICE:

I offer clinical supervision for trainee and experienced therapists, with a particular focus on group supervision as a space for shared learning and reflection. I provide an engaged, relational environment for shared reflection in dialogue with others, supporting your clinical development within the complexity and responsibility of practice.

My approach is grounded in gestalt therapy and focuses on:

• what is happening in the present moment
• the relationship between members and group process
• how learning develops through experience and reflection

In groups, I am especially interested in how people learn with and from each other, and how supervision supports:

• clear focus on ethics and safeguarding
• reflective thinking
• confidence and professional development

I offer an inclusive, GSRD-affirming practice, supporting LGBTQIA+, Queer, Trans, LGBTQIA+, Genderqueer, Genderfluid and non binary communities.

Safeguarding & Professional Standards:

• Enhanced DBS (DBS Update Service)
• Clinical training recognised under Category C of the SCoPEd / Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies competence framework

I also offer gestalt psychotherapy as an embodied, relational practice, informed by further training with the Center for Somatic Studies (NYC).

About Me

Claire Spiller (she/her)
UKCP‑Registered & Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist
Clinical Supervisor – Group & Individual | In‑Person and Online

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ABOUT ME:

I am a gestalt psychotherapist, supervisor and clinical trainer. I offer supervision, psychotherapy and training both in-person and online.

I am a Professional Member of ACTO and have specialist training in online therapy and supervision, with particular attention to confidentiality, UK-GDPR and data security.

I trained at the Metanoia Institute (MSc and Clinical Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy, and Certificate in Clinical Supervision). I have also completed postgraduate training in Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy, which continues to inform how I work with a kinaesthetic approach to experience.

I am actively involved in the international Gestalt community. I currently serve as:

• Secretary of the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy (NYIGT)
• Co-Convenor of the NYIGT 75th Anniversary Conference (2027)
• A facilitator of international groups focused on writing and research

Before becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in medical social work and the third sector, including with refugee, asylum-seeking, and homeless communities. This background continues to shape my understanding of context, inequality, and lived experience. My work is grounded in an inclusive and respectful framework, with people from diverse and global majority communities.

My work is grounded in a GSRD affirming and inclusive approach, supporting Queer, Trans, LGBTQIA+, Genderqueer, Genderfluid and non binary communities.

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TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL WORK:

Alongside my clinical work, I am actively engaged in teaching, training and doctoral research.

I deliver training and consultancy support to:

• Psychotherapy and counselling practitioners
• Multi-agency health and education professionals

I offer management consultancy services to organizations and academic support to individuals.

I am currently part of the faculty for the Certificate in Working with the Complexities of Trauma, a programme accredited by the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists and awarded best UK professional therapy training service 2023 offering international online training: https://www.ghp-news.com/winners/therapy-and-counselling-2/

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ACCREDITATIONS:

• UKCP Registered & Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist
• UKCP Registered Clinical Supervisor
• EAGT Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist
• Accredited Psychotherapist (GPsyC)

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QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA (Hons) Communication Studies [incl. TEFL]
• Certificate of Higher Education in Counselling
• Advanced Certificate in Counselling
• Cognitive Behavioural Diploma in Counselling
• BACP Certificate of Proficiency (prior to moving to UKCP)
• Clinical Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy (Metanoia Institute, 2014)
• MSc in Gestalt Psychotherapy (Metanoia Institute, Level 7: Middlesex Uni Transcript: Jul. 2014)
• UKCP Registered and Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist
• Preparing to Teach in Post Compulsory Education and Training (Cardiff Met Uni, 2018)
• Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2018)
• Certified Cyber Therapist (Online Therapy Institute, 2021)
• European Certificate of Psychotherapy (European Association for Psychotherapy, 2021)
• Certificate in Clinical Supervision (Metanoia Institute, 2021)
• European Certificate of Gestalt Psychotherapy (EAGT, 2023)
• Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy (Center for Somatic Studies, NYC, 2023)

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PRACTICE INFORMATION:

Location: Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan
Format: In-person and online (Zoom/Teams)
Availability: My practice is currently full. A waitlist is available.

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REMOTE SUPERVISION AND THERAPY: [ACTO PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP]

I am a Professional Member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online [ACTO] having completed specialist training to work remotely. I undertook dedicated training on working in the remote space at the Online Therapy Institute where I qualified in remote psychotherapy. I am committed to online safety and data security and began offering remote therapy several years before the coronavirus pandemic.

I am interested in how working remotely can widen access to therapy, supervision and training, to explore, discover and connect communities across different towns and cities, whilst supporting the environment and ecology of our planet.

Psychotherapy and clinical supervision by video conferencing offers a range of creative possibilities, including:

• Have sessions in your own space at home, or if you are away and our agreement includes remote working
• Avoid the need to travel to a consulting room if you have caring, childcare or other responsibilities
• If you are recovering from an illness, injury or accident
• If you are unable to travel for medical or other reasons

WHAT DO I NEED FOR CLINICAL SUPERVISION OR THERAPY ONLINE?

• You will need a webcam
• Ensure a stable and reliable internet connection
• To agree a protocol in the event of technological breakdown
• Access to the Zoom video calling platform and how to use this
• Familiarise yourself with how to navigate the video conferencing platform
• Check your audio and video settings in advance to ensure these are working well
• To be within a confidential environment, free from other people and distraction
• To ensure your mobile devices or notifications are switched off or turned to silent
• To have any AI listening devices switched off
• A headset can offer enhanced privacy
• Please note that as phone handsets can restrict movement, planning to use a laptop or computer is recommended
• Some tablets may be suitable, however they tend to offer less functionality on Zoom

HOW DO I ACCESS CLINICAL SUPERVISION OR THERAPY ONLINE?

• You will be sent a new, unique Zoom link for each session
• You’ll receive this via secure encrypted email for your security
• The link will be password protected
• The password to access Zoom will be in the encrypted email
• On clicking the link, the system prompts to input the password
• You will then be directed to a virtual waiting room and
• At the appointment time you’ll be invited into the online room, in which our virtual room will be secured

PHONE THERAPY:

If you do not have a computer or internet connection, telephone therapy may be an option for you. It may also be your preference. I worked clinically by phone for several years prior to the pandemic. I make the call so you don’t incur phone charges. It is important to ensure a confidential environment, in which you cannot be overheard, free from other people and distraction, including digital distraction, with any other mobile or electronic devices turned to silent or switched off.

TERMS OF WORK | HOW INFORMATION IS PROTECTED:

I have a comprehensive understanding of the UK-General Data Protection Regulation post-Brexit. If we decide to work together, we discuss the following information:

- UK-GDPR Privacy notice
- My terms including initial session and cancellation fees
- Supervision / or therapy agreement including whether working in-person or remotely, if both;
- How we each agree to do this

I have extensive professional experience of:

• SARC [Sexual Assault Referral Centre services]
• Crisis management, including homelessness, fleeing domestic violence
• Trauma-informed psychotherapy with adult individuals
• Work related complex situations across the public, private and third sectors
• Clinical teaching with groups of professionals, including trainee and qualified therapists, mental health and education teams.

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

Current Secretary of New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy [NYIGT]
Center for Somatic Studies, New York City ~ [Alumnus]
The Society for Psychotherapy Research
International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy [IAAGT]
European Association for Gestalt Therapy [EAGT]
International Gestalt Therapy Study Group on Field-Emergent Self
The UK Association for Gestalt Practitioners [UKAGP]
European Association for Psychotherapy
The Society for Existential Analysis
Metanoia Institute, London
UKCP - Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College
Registered Psychotherapist with the General Psychotherapy Council (GPsyC)
Professional Member - Association for Counselling and Therapy Online [ACTO]

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Below are some recent conferences, seminars and courses I have attended:

• Aesthetics of Contacting - Institut Français de Formation Psychocorporelle | Center for Somatic Studies | Gestalt Therapy International Studio, Paris, 2026.

• Wales National Safeguarding Training, Learning and Development Framework: Group C - 'Safeguarding Children and Young People for the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Senior Managers', 2026.

• Phenomenology - Pure and Applied, 2025.

• Working Alongside Trans, Non-Binary and Questioning Clients, 2025

• Welsh Government National Training Framework -
Understanding Honour Based Violence; Level 4, 2024

• Dan Zahavi: Center for Subjectivity Research, Copenhagen: The Unity and Plurality of Emotional Sharing: collective intentionality, plurality, and difference, Cardiff University, 2024

• Beyond Trauma - Has Clinical Practice been Reduced to Psycho-traumatology? - IPsiG and ISIPSÉ, 2023

• Artificial Intelligence International Summit, 2023

• Paul Goodman: The Revolutionary Imagination, Poetry, and Gestalt Therapy, 2023

• Phenomenology and Gestalt Psychotherapy, 2020 - 2025.

• Working with clay in online Gestalt therapy, 2023

• Online virtual therapy: its possibilities and limits, 2023

• 5th International Conference on Research in Gestalt Therapy: Hamburg:
Gestalt for Future - Creating a Network for Research {online} 2022

• Open Gestalt 24 hour Revolution Virtual Popup Conference:
Asociación Mexicana de Psicoterapia Gestalt Contemporánea, 2022

• International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy 2022:
IAAGT Ireland Conference: Edges of Exile & Belonging:

• Gestalt Therapy for Working with Alzheimer's & Other Irreversible Dementias
• A Gestalt Therapist Considers Autism
• How Core Beliefs Impact Feelings and Experiences of Exile and Belonging
• Gestalt Process Group Facilitation and Training

Gestalt 2021: XXI International Gestalt Conference: Kiev Gestalt University {online}

• Kinaesthetic Resonance (2021)
• Phenomenological, Aesthetic & Field Approach (2021)
• The Border of Contact (2021)
• The Art of Self (2021)

International Interdisciplinary Congress of Gestalt Psychotherapy (2021) – Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina {online}

• Concepts in Supervision
• The Heart of Psychotherapeutic Change: Developing Presence
• Intimacy and Tenderness
• To Hold the Hand That Holds Our Hands: Responsive Contacting
• In And Out of Love

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• Gestalt Group Psychotherapy (2022)
• Phenomenology and Gestalt Psychotherapy: II: (2022)
• Art in Gestalt Psychotherapy (2022)
• Effective Teaching and Online Learning, Planning Learning and Teaching, Learning Theories, Techniques for Learning, Assessment for Learning, Evaluating Teaching Impact (2022)
• Artificial Intelligence (2021)
• Online Training Techniques (2021)
• Relational Interventions for New Psychopathologies in a Post-Pandemic World -
Istituto di Gestalt Human Communication Center, Italy {online}
• Do we still favour those who are neurotypical? (2021)
• Perspectives from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (2021)
• Resilience, Dissociation & the body: Restoring a sense of self after trauma (2021)
• Psychology of Video Games (2021)
• Data Protection & Privacy Online Certificate (2021)
• Embodied Intersubjectivities - The Body in the era of online therapy (2020)
• Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (2020) (ACTO /
Association for Counselling and Therapy Online recognised training)
• Moving Your Practice Online – Online Therapy Institute (2020)
• UKCP Remote Working (2020)
• GDPR Essentials (2020)
• Cybersecurity and Data Protection for Therapists (2020)
• Exploring the Future of Therapy & the Mental Health Profession in a Post-Pandemic World
• Covid-19: Psychological Impact, Wellbeing and Mental Health – NHS (2020)
• Contact in a Virtual World (2020)
• Enhanced Understanding of Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence for Organisational Leaders (2020)
• Welsh Government National Training Framework -
Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 /
Level 3: (Train the Trainer; 2020); Level 2: Ask & Act; (2019); Level 1: (2017)
• Essential Safeguarding Procedures for Adults and Children (2020)
• Counselling Adults on the Autistic Spectrum (2019)
• Trauma-informed teaching – Train the Trainer (2019)
• Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence: The Future of Psychotherapy (2019)
• Dialogue in Gestalt Psychotherapy {Martin Buber - the dialogic turn} (2015 - 2019)
• How Private is your Practice in Cyberspace? (2018)
• The General Data Protection Regulation (2018)
• Philosophy of Technology (2018)

Other Training:

• UKCP Mental Health Familiarisation placement (formerly known as psychiatric placement) - NHS Cwm Taf, Adult Acute Mental Health (2011 | 2012)
• Therapeutic skills for working with refugee families (2004)
• Foundation in integrative psychotherapy (2001)
• Principles of gestalt psychotherapy (2000)

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PUBLICATIONS:

Spiller, C. (2021). A Year of The Pandemic: Existential themes for psychotherapists. Existential Analysis, 32 (2), 250 – 261.

Spiller, C. (2021). Gestaltterapiens bankende hjerte. Årbok 2021, Norsk Gestaltterapeutforening, 122; Norsk Gestaltterapeutforening (ISSN 2703-9315).

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CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

• UKCP Conference, Psychotherapy in a Changing World, London, Nov 22-23, 2024
• International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy [IAAGT]
Biennial Conference, 2024: Veracruz, México, ONLINE PANEL
• Metanoia Research Academy, 2024
• UKCP Annual International Research Conference, 2022
• Society for Existential Analysis Annual Conference, 2021

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EVENT PRESENTATIONS:

• Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA: Working with the Body Online: A Contemporary gestalt therapy approach, 2024

• Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy Alumni - Exploring DSP in Remote Clinical Practice, 2024

• Encountering Artificial Intelligence – Exploring a Phenomenology of Embodied Experience:
New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy: Winter Special Event & follow-up NYIGT Community discussion event, 2024

• European Association Gestalt Therapy [EAGT] Research Webinar, 2022
• International Gestalt Therapy Study Group on Field-Emergent Self ~
A Community Conversation, 2022
• Sexual Violence Awareness {multi-agency}, 2020
• Older People's Commissioner for Wales, 2019
• International Women's Day community event, 2018
• Multi-agency training incl. supervision within the public and third sectors, 2015 - 2017

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OTHER ACTIVITIES:

• I held a governance role for 15 years on the board of a city centre young persons charity.
• I volunteered for 3 years with a charity supporting people with lived experience of HIV and AIDS on a confidential helpline, also through training, advocacy and support.
• I also held a management committee position for a local counselling charity dealing with referrals from primary care mental health support providers, policy and training development.

I work with

• Companies
• Groups
• Individuals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Gestalt Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Age-related Issues
• Chronic Illness
• Employment Difficulties
• Health-related Issues
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sexual Abuse
• Stress
• Trauma