About me

I am Dr. Claire Christopher, a relationship specialist, clinical hypnotherapist and perfectionism researcher.

I feel fortunate to have found two areas of work that continue to fascinate and inspire me: relationships and perfectionism. Both subjects keep me curious, encourage me to question what I think I know, and motivate me to keep learning and exploring. They are also closely connected, influencing how we relate to ourselves, other people and the expectations and dreams we carry through life.

My relationship work

Relationships have always fascinated me. I think there is a lot of truth in the saying that love makes the world go round. Whether we are talking about romantic love, families, friendships or working relationships, our connections and interactions with other people have an enormous influence on our happiness, well-being and sense of belonging.

What interests me is how relationships can bring us so much joy and fulfiment, but also cause immense pain and frustration. We can love someone deeply and still struggle to understand them. We can want to feel closer, but find ourselves reacting in way that create more distance. Sometimes we find ourselve stuck in the same argument, knowing it gets us nowhere but unable to work out how to do things differently.

I find it deeply rewarding to help people make sense of the patterns they have become caught in, to help them understand themselves and each other better, and to begin to reconnect and start experiencing the relationships they deserve. Sometimes that means finding the strength and courage to have an honest and difficult conversation. Sometimes it means listening differently, questioning an assumpting or taking time to recognise the part we each play in those relationships which matter so much to us.

My perfectionism work

My interest in perfectionism is both personal and professional. I have been a perfectionistic for as long as I can remember.

My perfectionism has taken different forms throughout my life. At times it has kept me stuck in a endless cycle of achievement, sometimes the focus has been on trying to please eveyone, and other times self-criticism and procrastination have stopped me from pursuing opportunities and dreams.

But I believe that perfectionism is not inherently bad, it’s given me the drive and persistence to complete a doctorate, enjoy success in my professional life, happiness in my personal life, and helped me run marathons and ultramarathons.

My perfectionism research informs my therapeutic work, workplace training and the intervention I have developed. I help people understand the origins of their perfectionistic behaviours and thoughts and work with them to develop more flexible responses and strategies which allow them to pursue what matters to them while also making time for restoration, relationships and the things that make life meaningful.

How clinical hypnotherapy supports my work

In both my relationship and perfectionism work, I often draw on clinical hypnotherapy. Sometimes we understand why we react in a particulary way, but find it impossible to respond differently in the moment.

Clinical hypnotherapy uses focused attention and therapeutic suggestions to help us explore and work with these responses. In relational work, this may involve managing emotional reactions and rehearsing calmer ways of approaching difficult situations and conversations. In perfectionism work, it may involve responding differently to self-critical thoughts, becoming more comfortable with uncertainty and allowing permission to rest.

I use hypnotherapeutic techniques alongside practice therapeutic work to break patterns and discover new ways of conceptualising challenges.

What I bring to my work

In addition to my 16 years of psychotherapeutic experience, I bring more than 20 years of experience of working in high-pressure professional environments. I understand the demands of working in settings where achievement, responsibility and availability are non-negotiable and highly valued. I work with organisations to deliver tailored talks, workshops and programmes which help people understand how perfectionism present in the workplace, strengthen working relationships and navigate professional pressure. Drawing on my research and experience, I offer practical ways to support well-being, sustain high performance and build healthier, more supportive working cultures and environments.

Working together

I bring curiosity, compassion and commitment to understanding what matters to you. Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your relationships or your organisation, you are welcome to get in touch to explore how we might work together.