Claire Gau

I have a special interest in trauma recovery and women's health, including the ways life experiences can affect a woman's emotional well-being, relationships, identity, self-esteem, and sense of purpose. I also work with individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, addictions, sexual abuse recovery, human trafficking recovery, parenting concerns, relationship and marriage difficulties, and life transitions. I work with adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Pastors, Ministry Leaders & Their Families

My personal experience as a pastor's daughter and pastor's wife has given me a unique understanding of the joys and challenges of ministry life. I understand that pastors and ministry leaders often carry significant responsibilities while also trying to care for their marriages, children, families, and congregations. There can be pressure to always be strong, available, and spiritually grounded, even when you are personally struggling.

I have a particular passion for walking alongside pastors, ministry leaders, and their families as they navigate ministry expectations, marriage and family relationships, boundaries, burnout, church conflict, personal struggles, and the challenges of balancing ministry with their own emotional and spiritual well-being. My years of involvement in church leadership and worship ministry have also given me firsthand experience with the unique dynamics of serving within a church community.

My Approach

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.

My additional clinical training includes addictions, trauma, anxiety treatment, parenting, human trafficking, and relationship-focused therapies.

Life can leave us carrying more than we were ever meant to carry alone. Sometimes the challenges we face can feel like giants in our lives—trauma from the past, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, addiction, grief, self-doubt, or circumstances that feel bigger than our ability to handle them. Counseling can provide a place to slow down, make sense of your experiences, and discover that you do not have to face those giants alone.

My goal is to create a safe and compassionate environment where you can be honest about what you are experiencing and feel genuinely heard and understood. I believe that healing is possible and that even when our circumstances cannot immediately change, we can learn new ways of understanding ourselves, responding to challenges, and moving forward.Facing Your Giants

Whatever brings you to counseling, you don't have to face it alone. Some giants may be rooted in our past, while others are part of what we are facing today. Together, we can explore what you have been carrying, understand the experiences that have shaped you, and work toward healthier ways of responding and relating.

My hope is that counseling becomes a place where you can find healing, connection, freedom, and hope—and discover that the giants in your life do not have to define your story or determine your future. I would be honored to walk alongside you in that journey.