Paloma McMullan
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
About me
Welcome to my profile. I'm Paloma, a warm and down-to-earth UKCP-registered Psychotherapist offering brief counselling and longer term/open-ended psychotherapy to UK-based individuals aged 18 and over. A defining feature of my practice is my willingness to engage with individuals in all of their richness and complexity, rather than focusing exclusively upon any challenges that they may be experiencing.
My 4-year MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy has equipped me with the expertise to draw from different psychotherapeutic traditions (such as Psychoanalysis, Object Relations, Self-Psychology, Psychodynamic, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Person Centred and CBT) to create a customised approach tailored to your unique history, way-of-being, skill set and goals. What renders my way of working integrative- rather than simply eclectic- is my use of a specific (developmental-relational) model as the foundation for my practice. In other words, my approach is underpinned by the principle that early experiences of contact and connection define the course of psychological development, forming a template for our understanding of who we are and how the world ‘works’ and establishing a blueprint for our relationships with self and others.
Research indicates that the quality of the connection and alliance between practitioner and client is a crucial factor in determining a successful therapeutic outcome. With this in mind, I will work with you to co-create a therapeutic relationship which, while structured and boundaried, is also welcoming, nurturing and supportive. I will listen- with interest, empathy and compassion- to whatever you choose to share with me. I will actively engage in dialogue; asking questions, offering observations and insights, sharing tools and strategies, and- where appropriate- signposting you to additional resources. Together, we will reflect on what brings you to therapy, identifying and working to address any obstacles hampering your progress as we collaboratively formulate a way forward that feels right to you.
The motivations for our thoughts, feelings and actions frequently operate outside of our awareness which can keep us 'stuck', repeating established patterns that may not serve our best interests in the here-and-now. By sensitively bringing unconscious processes to your attention, I will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on- and reassess- your longstanding beliefs about yourself, others and the world around you, freeing you up to experiment with thinking, feeling and behaving differently, should you choose to do so.
I invite you to get in touch to book a free, no-obligation, 50 minute phone or Zoom session to enable us to see how we get along together and give you a sense of whether you would find my approach useful. While I realise that reaching out to a professional for support can feel daunting, I assure you that I am approachable and friendly and would be delighted to hear from you!
*** If you email me and don't receive a reply within 48 hours, please check your spam folder, in case my reply has ended up in there! ***
Training, qualifications & experience
- MSc Integrative Psychotherapy (Merit); Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute; 2018
- PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy; Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute; 2016
- PGCert Integrative Psychotherapy; Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute; 2015
Organisational Memberships:
- UKCP Registered Member status (i.e. accreditation) attained in 2018 (Registration number: 2011164430)
- BACP Registered Member status attained 2021 (Registration number: 389369)
- SPTI Graduate Member
Psychotherapeutic Experience:
Since August 2022, I have been working in private practice. Before this, I was employed in the following roles:
- Trent PTS (IAPT); Primary Care Counsellor; Mar 2020-Dec 2021
- Nottingham Trent University; Associate Counsellor; Oct 2019-Feb 2020
- University of Nottingham; Associate Counsellor; Mar 2019-Jun 2019 & Oct 2019-Feb 2020
- The Leicester Counselling Centre; Counsellor; Oct 2016-May 2019
- Nottingham Trent University; Counsellor-in-training; Jan 2016-May 2018
- Safe Space, Nottingham; Psychotherapeutic Counsellor; Jan 2015-Aug 2016
I have worked with people from all walks of life and backgrounds, seeking support for a broad range of issues. Prior to Mar 2020, I was working face-to-face; between Mar 2020-Dec 2022, I delivered my services via telephone and video/webcam; and since Dec 2022, I have provided a blend of face-to-face and virtual (video/webcam or telephone) sessions.
Before training as a psychotherapist I spent over 2 decades studying, teaching, and providing academic and pastoral support at various universities in the UK and US, which I really enjoyed. Consequently, I am well-placed to work therapeutically with undergraduate and postgraduate students and those working within Higher Education settings. In addition, since psychoeducation is key to my approach, I regularly make use of the skills acquired during my 19 years of university teaching
Additional Academic Qualifications:
- 2004- PhD American Studies*; University of Nottingham
- 1996- MA American Culture Studies; BGSU, Ohio (USA)
- 1995- MA American Literature & Theory Since 1945; University of Sussex
- 1994- BA Hons English & American Literature; University of Warwick
* My interdisciplinary doctoral research focused on embodiment, gender, trauma and recovery within American veterans' depictions of the US military intervention in Vietnam. While it should be noted that my PhD is an academic (not a medical) qualification, the insights and questions which emerged from this endeavour strongly influenced my decision to embark upon psychotherapy training and continue to inform and enrich my clinical practice.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- University-related issues
- Personal development
- Self-care and building resilience
- Coping skills
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £55.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I usually meet with clients weekly as I have found that this yields significant therapeutic benefits. However, I am willing to consider alternative arrangements.
Weekday 50-minute webcam or telephone sessions - £50.00*
Saturday 50-minute webcam or telephone sessions- £55.00*
50-minute face-to-face sessions- £55.00*
In the event of a longer session being agreed, charges will be pro rata.
* A limited number of concessionary appointments are available to students, trainees and others on low incomes. Please get in touch to check availability.
When I work
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Zoom or phone appts 12pm-8pm weekdays, limited availability on Saturday afternoons. Face-to-face appts Tuesday afternoons/evenings at professional therapy rooms in Beeston, Nottingham.
Further information
I am an accredited, full clinical member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and a Graduate Member of the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute (SPTI). Consequently, I work within UKCP, BACP and SPTI ethical guidelines/codes, which can be accessed via https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/ , https://www.bacp.co.uk/ and https://www.spti.net/ethics/ respectively.
I possess enhanced DBS clearance and full professional indemnity insurance. I am registered as a Data Controller with the ICO and am GDPR compliant. I regularly attend clinical supervision with a UKCP-Accredited Supervisor to ensure that my client work meets professional standards and I frequently engage in Continuing Professional Development activities to enhance and develop my practice.
