Paula Flanagan

Verified Professional task_alt Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Solihull B92
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hello, my name is Paula.  I know that at times we all experience difficulties in life.
Very often we are able to sort  things out ourselves or with support from those close to us.

However, once in a while we may need help from someone to work out strategies to tackle a problem and listen to us without bias or judgement... that can be where counselling can come in.

I aim to create a therapeutic environment where a rapport is established with warmth and compassion, where making sense of the issues and how you feel and think about them is the starting point. Receiving counselling should be a life changing experience, it is something you will continue to use long after you have left the counselling room.

Counselling is an experience with unique qualities, it may be the only time you can have someone listen and understand, you do not have to worry that you will upset them and do not have to hide your feelings away.

Making contact whether by phone or email is the first step, and would allow me to contact you to see how I could help. An initial phone call gives you the opportunity to talk about what is available to you, help you understand the process and begin to establish the most important part of counselling; the relationship between the client and counsellor.

I offer a confidential service working in a solution-focused way, ensuring that you will be at the heart of the therapy, making your own decisions based upon what you find out about yourself.

Fully insured and registered member of the BACP.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualified to BA (Honours) Degree in Counselling, I have extensive experience in working with people experiencing bereavement and loss. I have also worked with NHS IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) with clients suffering from anxiety and depression. I have worked as a counsellor for 13 years, both in organisations and in private practice; fine tuning the humanistic approach that I employ.

I have significant experience in relationship issues, autism, grief, loss, bereavement, suicide, miscarriage, termination, self harm, alcoholism, family issues, anxiety, depression, anger, adoption and traumatic injury.

Other areas in which I have trained are:

  • Child Bereavement
  • Play Therapy                    
  • Gestalt Therapy 
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Transactional Analysis
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Mindfulness 
  • Self Harm                          
  • Safeguarding
  • Essential Supervision Skills
  • Low Self-esteem
  • Sexual Abuse Therapy
  • Psychodynamic counselling
  • Sleep studies                   
  • Attachment theory
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder
  • Grief and Loss 
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder &ADHD
  • Female Genital Mutilation
  • Stress Management

Having personal experience of the benefits of counselling means I have a genuine interest in its effects for your benefit too. I tailor the sessions to suit your needs and goals, for the best outcome for you.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Loss
Pre-bereavement with a terminal illness

I do not counsel couples, for marriage or relationship counselling.

I also offer Supervision on a one-to-one basis.

Fees

£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle Keyworkers
  • check_circle OAPs
  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors
  • check_circle Unemployed

Additional information

 I am available for evening sessions Wednesday and Thursday.

 I use Walk and Talk therapy within 5 miles of Jubilee Park in Solihull, these can be 30 mins or 1 hour. 

I can use Home Visits for those with mobility issues.

£50 per session/ £25 for 30 mins Walk and Talk
I can make concessions for those on low incomes and students
£30 missed appointments/late cancellations within 24 hours.

I do not see couples or Children under 16.

When I work

10am to 4pm Wednesday and  Friday

Further information

I believe the most important part of counselling is the relationship between counsellor and client, which is based on confidence, trust and honesty.

I also offer Supervision sessions.

Type of session

In person
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

The office I work from has stairs. I can make further arrangements for those with mobility issues; such as home visits.

Online platforms

Whatsapp

Supervision

In person
Phone

I offer supervision in counselling and mentoring mainly, but also supervision in an educational setting.

View supervision profile

Social

Paula Flanagan
Paula Flanagan