Paula Dickinson

I'm Paula and I work with individuals, couples,  and I now have opened up space to support mothers and daughters relationships and help you to get you back to a place of not just surviving life and relationships but thriving within those. 

Life can be hard, tiring, draining, complicated and pressurised we may feel like we are dealing with that all alone at times As a therapist my work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens within relationships — both the ones we have with others and the one we have with ourselves. I place strong emphasis on helping people slow things right down, make sense of their experiences, and feel seen within the challenges they are facing. I take time to understand you and all your facets to support you into your "happy place" again. My goal is to see you thrive not just survive,  it's a joy  and privilege when I get see people living, laughing and loving again. ( both themselves and each other)

I support  individuals, couples and those who may be struggling with communication breakdowns, emotional distance, conflict, or long‑standing relational patterns that no longer serve them. Whether working with partners, parent–child relationships, or wider family systems, I aim to create a balanced and safe environment where every voice matters and no one is blamed or overlooked.

While I work professionally, ethically, and within clear therapeutic boundaries, I also work in a very human way. I understand that starting therapy — and staying with it — can feel daunting, vulnerable, and at times uncomfortable. In my view, therapy is not about being ‘fixed’, but about being understood. Compassion, warmth, and authenticity are central to how I work, because lasting change does not take place in sterile or impersonal spaces.

I stand firmly in the belief that  truly "seeing'a  person in all their facets  is essential and integral to good therapy. I take time to understand the context, relationships, and life experiences that shape each individual’s story, and I work collaboratively to help people feel more connected — to themselves and to those  and the world around them.

People tell me that I am really easy to talk to and I have prided myself on working in a relational way which is based upon being down-to-earth, approachable and welcoming so that you feel comfortable enough to share with me what has brought you to therapy and what is troubling you.

I leave the counselling terminology jargon at the door and ask questions that are geared towards my understanding of you. Getting to know you and building a therapeutic relationship built upon trust. Wouldn’t it feel lovely to be understood? Wouldn’t it be great to experience acceptance and trust? You may wonder why the relationship is so important so I will tell you. Emotional safety and connection allow you to be candid which is a key factor. 

How can I help you?

I help you come to grips with your feelings so that over time you feel more yourself again whether that's less anxious, sad, despondent or depressed. Together we can understand any feelings of anger you may have and we can work on understanding feelings such as anxiety, sadness, guilt, shame and anger, and start to communicate better with those around you.

Letting go of things that you can control can feel hard however together I will equip you with coping strategies that will help you feel more resilient in life. The end goal is for you to feel confident and to engage with your value and worth.

I know that the hardest part is picking up that phone. I understand the courage that it takes to do it. I also see how that one call can lead to taking control of your life again. 

If you have any questions or would like to book a session, then I would like to welcome you to get in touch with me today. You can call or text me on 07561 442 551 or click here to send me an email. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Paula 

Working with me as your counsellor

I can empathise with the lifestyle which I find underpins the work that I do, I understand that this life is built upon dedication, service, family and trust.

I also recognise that this life can also expose us to significant traumas that we need to work together to help you alleviate the impact of those traumas. 

I can help you as an individual or as a couple to understand what brought you to this day. We are all part of a wider family and the impact of family dynamics can be hard. It can influence self-worth, decision making and difficult historic relationships can impact our relationships in the here and now.

I can help you gain understanding and create a future aligned with creating happy relationships and not repeating past relational patterns built upon trauma. Healing from the past starts by understanding it and creating a future starts by understanding what is and isn’t conducive to your well-being and happiness. 

Our pain and suffering are compounded when we shame ourselves with harsh critical statements and judgements. I understand, I have been there and that’s what supports a lot of my work. I don’t come at this for a position of having a perfect life. I come at this from a human position or knowing and experiencing struggles which I had, to be honest about and deal with and I use that each day to underpin my work. 

Chronic Pain,  Disability/Health, Neurodiversity and our relationships

Maybe you struggle with chronic pain and illness, which can be both physically and emotionally painful to live with. Maybe there is anxiety around feeling judged by others, maybe there is anxiety around finances or perhaps anxiety around being on social occasions. Perhaps it makes you anxious to go places as maybe self-care can be challenging.

Neurodiversity

Perhaps you fall on the neurodiverse spectrum or suspect you may be neurodiverse and perhaps there is anxiety around feeling understood by people and worries about what they think. Perhaps you find certain situations difficult and maybe you feel trapped and unable to share your need. I understand just how confusing situations can be.

Trauma and life-changing events

Maybe you’ve had a life-changing event and feel anxious about what the future holds and how that could look. I get that this can be challenging, who wouldn’t be anxious when things change on a grand scale and we suddenly feel like our lives will not be the same again? Trauma is a vast field and we can be traumatised in many different ways. No one trauma is the same and all trauma is valid!

Family and Relationships

Maybe you have family that is difficult to deal with and perhaps this feeds into your anxiety. It’s really painful when we have difficult family dynamics which we have to juggle. Maybe you no longer wish to juggle them or maybe you want to learn to cope better with limited interactions

Social Anxiety

Whereby you experience overwhelming fear of social situations like meeting or speaking to people.

General Anxiety

Whereby you experience anxiety and worries around some different areas of your life. Maybe that is relationships, finances or work. Perhaps this anxiety sets off a chain of anxieties where one worry leads to another
  
Helping you to understand your process for you to feel lighter is my focus, we can at times be our worst critics and judging ourselves is just not helpful. Learning to understand ourselves and be kind is a large part of how I will work with you. After all, I get it, how can we be kind if we don’t fully understand our process? The weight that we carry in emotions is often unbearable, and I want to help you lighten your load. 

My fees are as follows

Free 15 - Introduction Video/Telephone call

Individual sessions are 50 min at a rate of  £70.00 per 50-minute session.

Couples' therapy sessions are  £85.00 per 50-minute session.

Family £100.00

My way of working has developed over the years into a way of being that is professional, informal and relational. I keep therapy 'Human' and for me being human means being caring, empathic, and willing to place myself in your shoes so that I can understand your struggles as you experience them.

Please call or text me today on 07561 442 551 or send me an email to get started.