Dr Claudia Mulligan

Hi! I’m Claudia and I’m a Counselling Psychologist.

At the heart of my work I come from a person-centred approach with psychodynamic lens, with attachment theory running through much of how I think about people.   

I’m always trying to understand a person as a whole — not just the presenting difficulty, but the life experiences, relationships, and patterns that have shaped them. Early experiences, family dynamics, and the way someone has learned to connect with others all come into the room with us, and I hold those in mind throughout our work. 

A big part of what I do is help people develop a deeper understanding of themselves — why they feel the way they do, why they relate to others in the ways they do, and where those patterns come from. That self-awareness is often where real, lasting change begins. 

I also place real importance on the body as a source of knowing. Feelings and anxiety are important messages that live in our bodies so I try to weave somatic awareness into my work, gently helping people notice and connect with bodily sensations as a way of accessing what’s happening inside/ This can open up a deeper, more felt sense of self and help clients tolerate anxiety/feelings.  

While psychodynamic thinking is my primary lens, I’m comfortable drawing on other modalities where they’re useful. I tailor my approach to the individual so its not a one size fits all approach.  

During my training and career I’ve worked across the NHS primary and secondary services working with adolescents, young adults and adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including addiction, anxiety disorders, chronic health, depression, interpersonal relationship difficulties and low self-esteem. 

Clients I work with often seek support for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, emotional regulation and self-understanding, work stress and life transitions, sleep difficulties, and LGBTQ+ identity and experience. 

At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship. I believe real, lasting change becomes possible when you feel genuinely safe — heard, accepted, and free from judgement. That sense of safety isn’t a backdrop to therapy; it is the work. 

I take a holistic view of the people I work with. Rather than focusing solely on a presenting problem, I’m interested in the full picture: the life experiences, relationships, and patterns that have shaped who you are. Early experiences, family dynamics, and the ways you’ve learned to connect with others are all held in mind throughout our work together. 

A central part of what I do is help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves — why they feel the way they do, why they relate to others as they do, and where those patterns come from. That self-awareness is often where meaningful, lasting change begins. I work integratively, drawing on psychodynamic and attachment-based approaches within a contemporary, relational framework. 

Sessions are collaborative. I bring psychological knowledge, evidence-based techniques, and practical tools you can use in daily life. You bring your story. Together, the work is about building healthier relationships with others by first building a kinder, more grounded relationship with yourself. 

Outside of work, I enjoy cold water swimming and spending time in nature, so much so I did my doctoral thesis on this. I am sleep obsessed as I consider it to be the foundation to function.

I enjoy movement whether that is a long walk or workout class. I fill up my cup by spending time with those who matter the most to me. My guilty pleasure is reality TV, an easy way to unwind and switch my brain off!