Claire Gau
I believe every person has a story worth hearing and that healing can begin when we have a safe place to share it. My desire as a counselor is to walk alongside my clients with compassion, understanding, and hope. I have a special interest in trauma recovery and women’s mental health, including the impact of life experiences on emotional well-being, relationships, identity, self-esteem, and purpose. I work with those navigating anxiety and depression, addictions, sexual abuse and human trafficking recovery, parenting concerns, relationship and marriage difficulties, and life transitions. I also have a passion for working with pastors, ministry leaders, and their families. As a pastor’s daughter and pastor’s wife, along with my experience in church leadership and worship ministry, I understand the unique joys and pressures of ministry life, including the challenges of balancing service, marriage, family, and personal well-being. I provide a place where you can face the giants in your life, find healing, and move forward with hope. You don’t have to walk through this alone.
First session
Beginning counseling can bring up a lot of different feelings. You might feel nervous, hopeful, unsure, or even wonder if you’ll know what to say. Please know that you don’t have to come in with everything figured out. Our first session is simply a chance for us to get to know each other and for you to begin feeling comfortable in the space. I’ll want to hear about what has been going on in your life, what brought you to counseling, and what you may be hoping for as we work together. You can share as much or as little as you feel ready to share. There is no pressure to tell your whole story on the first day. We’ll take our time, and we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. We may talk about your relationships, your experiences, the things that have been difficult lately, and the parts of life that you would like to feel differently about. We’ll also begin talking about what you need and how I can best support you. And if you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay. You can simply tell me, “I don’t really know what to say.” We can start there. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, welcomed, and a little less alone in whatever you’re carrying.
Strengths
I believe counseling should be collaborative and individualized. There is no single approach that works for everyone, so I draw from a variety of therapeutic modalities depending on your needs and goals. My training includes EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Memory Reconsolidation. For clients who desire to incorporate their faith into counseling, I offer an approach that can integrate Christian faith and Formational Prayer into the therapeutic process. I believe faith can be an important source of hope, strength, meaning, and healing, while also respecting each client's individual beliefs and preferences.
Ideal clients
You don’t have to have everything figured out before beginning counseling, and you don’t have to know exactly what you need to work on. Therapy can simply begin with a willingness to pause, be curious about yourself, and explore what may be underneath the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that are affecting your life. It means being open to looking at your experiences with honesty and compassion, even when some of that exploration feels uncomfortable. Counseling is most helpful when you are willing to participate in the process, consider new perspectives, and gradually practice new ways of understanding and responding to yourself and others. Together, we can work toward goals such as developing greater self-awareness, understanding the patterns that influence the way you think and respond, processing past experiences, strengthening relationships, managing difficult emotions, building healthier ways of coping, and creating meaningful change.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT helps you recognize that you can't always control what you think or feel, but you can choose how you respond and what direction you want your life to take. It teaches one to; Notice your thoughts without automatically believing everything they say. Allow uncomfortable feelings instead of constantly fighting or avoiding them. Stay present rather than getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future. Figure out what matters to you, such as family, faith, relationships, recovery, health, or personal growth. Take small steps toward those things, even when difficult emotions come along.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Sometimes the way we think about a situation can increase feelings like anxiety, sadness, anger, or guilt. CBT helps you: Notice thoughts that may be making things harder. Understand how those thoughts affect your feelings and choices. Challenge thoughts that may not be completely accurate or helpful. Develop healthier ways of thinking about yourself and situations. Practice new coping skills for handling difficult emotions and situations. Build confidence in your ability to manage problems.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT helps you pause, understand what you are feeling, and choose a healthier response instead of automatically reacting. It teaches you “I can accept how I feel right now and still choose to make a positive change.” It can help you: Understand and manage your emotions instead of feeling controlled by them. Cope with stress without reacting in ways you may regret later. Slow down and stay present when your thoughts or feelings become overwhelming. Communicate your needs and set healthy boundaries. Handle conflict in healthier and more effective ways. Accept what you cannot change while working to change the things you can.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT helps you understand your feelings, recognize patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and develop healthier ways to connect with yourself and others. It can help you: Understand your emotions and where they come from Recognize unhealthy emotional or relationship patterns Express your feelings in healthier ways Improve communication with others Feel safer and more connected in relationships Learn new ways to respond when you feel hurt, angry, anxious, or overwhelmed
EMDR
EMDR helps your brain work through experiences that may feel “stuck.” The memory does not disappear, but over time it may become less upsetting and have less power over how you think, feel, and respond today. It helps clients to; Process traumatic or distressing experiences in a safe, structured way. Reduce the emotional intensity of painful memories. Identify and change negative beliefs, such as “I’m not safe,” “It was my fault,” or “I’m not good enough.” Decrease triggers and strong emotional reactions connected to past experiences. Develop healthier, more positive beliefs about themselves. Feel more in control in the present instead of feeling as though the past is still happening. Work through difficult experiences without having to repeatedly describe every detail of what happened.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions1320 Corporate Dr, Hudson, OH 44236