About me
Paula has full graduate and post-graduate level qualifications in:
Psychotherapy (BACP Accredited)
Sex Therapy & Psychosexual Therapy (COSRT Registered)
Couples and Relationship Therapy (COSRT Registered)
Clinical Supervision of Psychotherapists (BACP Accredited)
E.M.D.R. (EMDR Association).
Paula is a highly experienced BACP Accredited Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and COSRT Sex Therapist and Relationship Therapist with over 29 years experience, working in independent practice. She has Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is a recognised provider of Clinical Therapy for BUPA. She is also fully trained in EMDR and working with trauma, anxiety and depression. She is fully trained for Critical Incident Debriefing.
She is a fully accredited member of the B.A.C.P. (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists), a registered member of C.O.S.R.T. (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists) and member of the EMDR Association.
Paula is also a member of the EMDR Association's Special Interest Group for Sex and Relationship Therapists, leading the way in establishing cutting edge research and interventions, especially for trauma.
Paula always works to the highest standards, having an unusually high level of expertise, experience and qualifications. She offers a confidential service based on the importance of developing a secure and trusting therapeutic relationship.
Paula’s approach is one of warmth and support with the aim of helping clients achieve the change they desire to improve their life and wellbeing. She has tremendous faith in the therapeutic process from having helped so many people improve their lives.
Good therapy, with a skilled and experienced therapist, provides long-lasting benefits, giving people the tools to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome challenges. Paula has particular skill in creating a safe space for the client in therapy which will eventually make the world outside less overwhelming, scary or upsetting. The benefits obtained from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your relationships
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Paula has a huge amount of experience of working with individuals and groups around presenting issues such as; anxiety, stress, abuse, sex and relationship problems, depression, eating disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, addiction and bereavement. She also has specific training and experience in working with clients taking or withdrawing fron psychiatric medication.
She has an outstanding history of working well with clients who have been previously frustrated in their search for change through therapy. Her research background involved the creation of innovative evidence based practice systems. She has developed excellent tools for clients to use in therapy which help ensure that they have a clear understanding of what their goals are and if they are being met by therapy, enabling them to feel positive and engaged in the process.
She is able to provide individual short and long term therapy for adults and young people and Clinical Supervision for trainee and experienced Therapists.
As a fully BACP accredited and COSRT Therapist Paula abides by the BACP and COSRT Codes of Ethics.
Paula is also a fully trained EMDR practitioner and member of the EMDR Association (the regulatory body for EMDR Therapists)
Paula has an up to date enhanced DBS check for both adults and children.
Training, qualifications & experience
Paula has 29 years of clinical experience. She spent ten years working as a Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor (managing the work of Counsellors) for the award winning Southampton Rape Crisis. She provided short and long term individual Therapy and set up and ran therapeutic groups. In addition, she set up a groundbreaking Young People's Service, which provided a specialist place for young people to engage with creative therapy.
She has also worked for Hampshire County Council's Employee Support service providing short-term, solution-focused therapy and stress management, enabling clients to manage difficulties and return to work.
Her time with these services gave her a good working knowledge of referral to additional services and of NHS mental health services should they be required.
Paula is qualified to apply a range of psychological models including Humanistic, Integrative, Psychodynamic, EMDR, CBT, REBT and Solution-focused short term work. She is also able to offer creative and art based therapy, Mindfulness Meditation and Stress management.
Her specialist training in EMDR makes her a hugely skilled Therapist for PTSD and trauma. She is a registered member of the EMDR Association (The regulatory body for EMDR Therapists).
Paula always endeavours to enhance her qualifications and experience and has a level 7 (Masters level) qualification in Sex Therapy, Sexual Medicine and Couples and Relationship Therapy ensuring she provides the most clinically up to date expertise for her clients in these complex areas. She has also completed advanced post graduate training in Sex, Couples and Relationship Therapy with Expert practioner Esther Perel.
Paula is fully trained in Critical Incident Debriefing.
Paula also has a long professional history of working as a Teacher and Lecturer specialising in emotional and behavioural differences. She has also taught and trained Counsellors and other professionals such as Police officers and Social Workers and provides consultant groups for a large fostering agency.
She has always enjoyed staying up to date with training and research and has completed a huge amount of additional courses such as: Mindfulness, Stress management, working with Self Harm, DBT and Family therapy. She has also attended many conferences with the National Rape Crisis Federation and Hampshire County Council. She was also part of working group looking at suicide reduction interventions in Southampton.
She has published articles and written as a specialist for the media, consulting on Psychological issues, with a particular interest in anxiety, stress, parenting and psychosexual problems.
Training & qualifications
- BA (Hons) University of Leeds.
- M.Ed Masters degree in Psychology, University of Bristol. Specialising in Trauma, Anxiety, Group Therapy and Neuropsychology.
- Graduate Basis for chartered membership of the British Psychological Society
- P.G.C.E. University of Leicester (Post Graduate qualified teacher and lecturer)
- Counselling Certificate, University of Sheffield.
- Post Graduate Diploma of Higher Education in Psychotherapy (Skills, Theory and Practice), University of Southampton.
- Post-graduate Certificate in Advanced Studies in CAS Clinical Supervision Theory and Practice (Distinction), University of Southampton.
- BACP Accredited Psychotherapist status since 2005.
- Cosrt Accredited (Level 7/Masters level) in Sex Therapy and Couples and Relationship Therapy and Clinical Sexology (Sexual Medicine)
- EMDR Certificate. Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 (fully trained)
- EMDR for Depression
- Memory Reconsolidation, Flash Technique & EMDR (fully trained)
- Sex, Couples and Relationship Therapy training with Esther Perel.
- Recovering from Infidelity training with Esther Perel.
- Enhancing Sex and Intimacy training with Esther Perel.
- Mindfulness for Sexual Problems, Tavistock Relationships, London.
- Foundation in Art Therapy , British Association of Art Therapists , London.
- Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy , Albert Ellis institute, New York City.
- PhD level research into Trauma, University of Roehampton.
- Working with clients taking or withdrawing from Psychiatric drugs. British Psychological Society.
- Primary Care Certificate in CBT (Cognitive behavioural Therapy) (BPS accredited), The Centre for Stress Management, London.
- Primary Care Certificate in Stress Management [BPS accredited], The Centre for Stress Management, London.
- Primary Care Certificate in Solution Focused Therapy [BPS accredited], The Centre for Stress Management, London.
- Working with clients taking or withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. British Psychological Society.
- Critical Incident Debriefing
- Certificate of Education (Emotional and Behavioural Differences), University of Winchester.
- In addition Paula continually attends a large amount of short courses and workshops.
Recent articles
https://happiful.com/making-wfh-work-for-you/
https://happiful.com/what-is-sensory-deprivation/https://issuu.com/happiful/docs/happiful_february_2020/s/10207014
https://issuu.com/happiful/docs/happiful_february_2020/s/10207014
https://happiful.com/4-ways-to-avoid-burnout-after-graduation/
https://greatist.com/live/mother-daughter-jealousy#1
https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/inspire/life/could-mental-health-issues-help-with-parenting
https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/pannzg/sexual-harrassment-at-uk-universities
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/blog/2018/05/14/parental-stress-impacts-children/
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-year-of-metoo-whats-changed_uk_
https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/14/why-our-scheduling-obsession-may-be-bad-news-for-our-kids-8620332/
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Paula has outstanding success rates working with relationships and with anxiety and stress. Paula has particular expertise in working with abuse and those who have experienced sexual violence.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£85.00 - £100.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
BUPA recognised Consultant provider of Psychotherapy.
Individuals £85
Sex Therapy & Psychosexual Therapy £90
Couples & Relationship Therapy £95
Please contact me for rates for Clinical Supervision.
EMDR prices on request.
Critical Incident Debriefing quotations on request.
If you are wondering if Psychotherapy may be able to help you or a loved one, please feel free to contact me.
pcolescouns@hotmail.com
When I work
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Further information
An initial consultation will allow us to discuss if therapy may be useful to you. If for whatever reason I feel another Practitioner or service may be more suitable for your needs I will be able to refer you to other individuals or agencies.
Easily accessible by public transport.
Off-road parking available.
