Claire Cummings (She/Her), MA, MSW, RSW
Noctua Therapy
Hello, I’m Claire, a therapist dedicated to supporting you in the challenges and changes of midlife and beyond.
Midlife can feel like a reckoning. It brings questions about why we do what we do and who we do it all for. Like a tree moving into the Autumn season, parts of life that used to be life-giving fall away as we compost what no longer serves us. Time passes and we must contend with relationships lost or changed, difficulties and perhaps illness in the lives of those we care about, and the very real changes in our own bodies and minds. This season can also spur a desire to return to the essence of things and root down into what matters. It invites retrospection about how you were raised and how it impacts you now.
Going through these challenges alone can feel very isolating, as the realities of midlife often remain hidden and unacknowledged. You may experience burnout, depression, or anxiety. Your stress may manifest in your body as chronic inflammation or chronic illness. As a caregiver, you may have many responsibilities and a tendency to put others’ needs before your own, which can be a source of meaning but also comes at a cost.
My approach to therapy draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness practices. With IFS, we explore and get to know the different parts of yourself and find ways to nurture self-compassion. Through ACT, we uncover your thoughts and feelings without judgment, committing to actions that align with your values. Somatic mindfulness techniques can help you stay present and centered, reducing stress and supporting your overall mental and emotional health.
As a therapist, I commit to co-creating a space for growth and being present to your unique experience. As a CIS white woman, I strive to embody cultural humility and critically examine the religious, cultural, and social systems that confine us and cause harm. I bring my lived experience with patriarchal systems, religious trauma, mental illness in my community, parenting, pregnancy loss, death, generational trauma, aging and ill family members, and perimenopause to my practice. My social work training has equipped me to support you in accessing broader social support you might need for your family or yourself.
I look forward to working with you and supporting you in this season.
If any of the above resonates with you, please reach out for a free 15-minute conversation to see if we would be a fit.
Contact Info
Email: claire@noctuatherapy.com
Phone: 403-462-3416
Website: www.noctuatherapy.com
Instagram: @noctua.therapy
Availability:
In-person:
Thursdays: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Online:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Areas of Practice:
Adults (18+); Individual
Therapy
Caregiver Burnout, Grief, Midlife, Trauma, Religious Trauma, Parenting, Spirituality
Personal Interests:
I find a lot of joy in being in nature with my dog and practicing martial arts and somatic awareness. Weeding is my meditative practice, along with knitting and making jam. My two girls bring a lot of laughter and help me to stay curious and amazed by life.
