About me
I am a fully insured counsellor offering compassionate, integrative counselling for people who feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them.
Many of the people I work with are functioning well on the outside but struggling internally — with anxiety, low self-esteem, difficult family relationships, or a loss of identity following life changes. My approach offers a calm, supportive space where you can slow down, feel heard, and begin to make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface.
I work holistically, drawing on counselling psychology, compassion-focused approaches, emotional resilience work, and self-image support. This means we don’t just talk about coping — we explore how your experiences have shaped your sense of self, and gently work towards greater confidence, emotional safety, and self-trust.
How I Can Help
I offer support for:
Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm
Low self-esteem and confidence
Identity issues and feeling disconnected from yourself
Difficult family or parental relationships
Life transitions, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
Women wanting to feel more emotionally balanced and self-assured
My work is collaborative and paced to suit you. There is no pressure to “fix” yourself — instead, we focus on understanding, compassion, and meaningful change.
My Approach
Clients often describe me as warm, grounding, and intuitive, while also offering gentle structure and insight. Alongside traditional counselling, I may integrate:
Compassion-focused and resilience-based tools
Emotional regulation and nervous system support
Reflective exercises between sessions
Self-image and confidence work (where appropriate)
This integrative approach supports both emotional healing and a stronger sense of identity — helping you feel more aligned internally and externally.
Sessions & Fees
Individual counselling sessions: £65 (50 minutes)
Short- and longer-term packages available
Online and in-person sessions (South Wales)
We can begin with a single session and decide together whether ongoing work feels right for you.
Taking the First Step
Reaching out for counselling can feel daunting, especially if you’re used to coping on your own. You don’t need to have everything figured out — just a willingness to talk.
If you’re wondering whether counselling could help, I offer a calm, non-judgemental space to explore what you’re carrying and what you need moving forward.
📩 Please get in touch to arrange a session or ask any questions.
Self-image and neurodiversity
I offer a specialist counselling supporting individuals with ADHD and autism to develop a clearer, more cohesive self-image and improved self-esteem.
This integrative approach combines therapeutic support with practical guidance. We explore the underlying layers of self-image, including past experiences, internalised beliefs, and patterns of self-sabotage, helping you understand where these messages began and how they continue to impact you. From there, we work to rebuild a stronger, more compassionate sense of self-worth.
Alongside counselling I incorporate colour analysis to support external expression. You will gain clarity on the colours that enhance your natural features— including consideration of sensory needs where relevant.
This holistic programme is designed to help you feel more confident, grounded, and at ease within yourself, creating a self-image that feels both authentic and sustainable.
Creative Counselling
A significant part of my counselling services includes creative counselling, which combines talking therapies with creative interventions. This approach complements my foundation training in person-centered therapy.
Many clients find themselves stuck in a cycle of counselling over the years, struggling to fully express their experiences and emotions for a variety of reasons. Creative counselling empowers you to communicate your thoughts and feelings in a way that is natural to you.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
I am also trained in compassion-focused therapy (CFT), which encourages a realistic and non-blaming perspective on life experiences. This approach helps you develop a compassionate mindset towards yourself and others, as well as the ability to accept compassion from others. Learning to be kind to yourself soothes your body and mind, while healing your soul.
Its structured format is methodical and reassuring, allowing for insight and growth.
A Supportive Environment
Choosing a counsellor and attending your first session can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to counselling. I strive to create a welcoming and supportive space where you feel comfortable opening up and exploring your challenges.
Counselling can be highly effective if you are willing to engage in the process and work towards meaningful change.
My Experience & Skills
I have developed my skills through:
Working as an adult counsellor for MIND, supporting individuals with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
Working as a mental health specialist mentor at USW, where I helped students achieve their academic goals while managing mental health challenges.
Running my private practice from home for 9 years.
Teaching and supervising other counsellors.
Training, qualifications & experience
- I hold a BSc (Hons) in Behavioural Sciences.
- I have a Person-Centered Counselling Degree.
- I have studied Life Coaching at Diploma level.
- I am trained at Post Graduate level in Education (PGCE FE)
- I am trained in mental health first aid
- I hold the assist training qualification
- Heal your inner child diploma
- PG Cert in Clinical Supervision
- A variety of creative counselling interventions
- ADHD and Autism trainings
- My education has assisted me in developing my sense of purpose which involves working to help others.
- My experience involves working with a variety of people dealing with a wide range of issues.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 - £85.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- £65 Per 50 min session
- Low-income clients £55
- I offer a free 15-minute consultation
- £85 for insurance companies
- I take cash or BACS payments in advance of the session
When I work
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Monday to Saturday
Further information
- I run a private practice from my home and the environment is calm, quiet and safe.
- I am an avid reader of personal development materials, and I enjoy dancing and walking.
- I believe that a healthy well-being is paramount in living a balanced lifestyle, I practice relaxation techniques as I feel relaxation is such an important factor in reducing stress reactions.
- My aim in helping others has assisted my development in a progressive lifestyle to demonstrate that following hardship and trauma a quality life can be achieved! Keep living!!
Testimonials
- 'I feel I have changed as my anxiety has just diminished'
- 'You helped me put things in place that has created differences in my working life that have altered my whole perception of my role, thank you'
- 'I feel more relaxed and my sense of wellbeing has greatly improved, I now fear less and have fun more, its been great thanks'
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'Paula is fantastic, I was nervous to start my journey, but Paula made me feel at ease immediately. She is kind, supportive, and extremely good at her job. Paula is always so professional and made me feel comfortable in every session. She has guided me through one of the toughest times in my life and I truly believe I have grown as a person because of this. I will be forever grateful to Paula and would encourage anyone who is thinking about starting a course with Paula to do it. ' ED
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I reached out to Paula to help me work through historical trauma that had led me to feel depressed and was stopping me from enjoying my life in the present. She helped me explore the issues that were holding me back from living and being the vibrant, beautiful woman I now know myself to be.
No matter how low you feel now, or how hard it is to see a way out of your current situation, I really feel talking to someone who is impartial and empathic to you and your experiences can really help.
Paula comes from a place of self-knowledge, her training in counselling sparked by her own experiences with anxiety, she is able to offer her clients a safe space to share their feelings and express their true selves without judgment.
She uses a variety of talking techniques and often suggests books, courses or extra activities you can explore yourself between sessions, not sticking to a set model allows her to really tailor the sessions to your individual needs.
I definitely feel more confident and able to take on life challenges than I did when I first reached out and hope to continue working with her to further explore how I can make the most of each day and continue on this path of self-love, understanding, and tolerance for myself and the people in my life.Thank you Helen
I cannot thank Paula enough for her help and support during one of the most difficult times in my life. After experiencing a recent loss, my anxiety felt overwhelming, but her compassionate approach, patience, and understanding helped me navigate my emotions in a safe and supportive space. She provided me with valuable coping strategies and a sense of reassurance that made a real difference in my healing journey. I highly recommend Paula and her services.
E Atkins
