Paula Howel
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, low mood, or uncertainty?
I specialise in offering counselling to alleviate anxious feelings and thoughts. If you feel anxious and are having negative thinking regularly then counselling with a therapist can help. Exploring the deeper meaning of these experiences, from past experience and the constant pattern that has developed, we can collaborate in using tools and techniques to address these issues. I have a great deal of experience in working with anxiety with remarkable success ( see testimonials at the bottom of this page).
I am a compassionate and empathic counsellor aiming to offer you a safe, confidential and comfortable space.
Are you experiencing trauma symptoms that need facing and accepting, with support and tools relevant to trauma, this can be overcome.
Bereavement and loss can feel like a daunting situation to find yourself in. Counselling can offer you a safe space to explore memories and feelings to grow your life around the loss.
Do you find yourself caught in negative thought patterns that lower your mood? This can contribute to the development of a negative self-image. A fragile or broken self-image can be healed. Your self-image is how you perceive yourself—or how you believe others see you. Does this resonate with you? If so, exploring your inner self-perception can help you improve the quality of your life. We can examine the historical messages you have internalised and work towards positive behaviour changes to support a better mood. If you feel even a glimmer of hope, that’s a great start.
If you're experiencing anxiety, I specialise in helpiing people to address the underlying reasons and cause this emotional pain. I work creatively and with therapeutic tools to help you overcome these feelings. Creating a way of being that is aligned with your lifestyle.
I specialise in working with clients who struggle with their self identity.
I am experienced in working with clients with a diagnosis of ADHD or Autism. If you would like to discuss your personal requirements, then please book an introductory free call.
Counselling with me involves exploring the patterns and themes of distress that repeatedly arise for you. My counselling approach is person-centred by nature, and I am experienced in using Gestalt techniques, compassion-focused therapy, and creative counselling. I tailor my approach to suit you and your current circumstances, building a strong, trusting, and therapeutic relationship.
I also utilise CBT techniques and tools if you prefer a more structured approach to developing skills for both the present and your future.
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-centred 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. Over time, negative thought patterns decrease, and self-criticism linked to guilt, shame, and anger begins to subside.
How I Help Clients Overcome Anxiety & Depression
Facing your fears
Learning effective coping strategies
Inducing calm
Lifting your mood
Reconnecting with yourself
Finding joy in life again
Walk-and-Talk Therapy
I also offer walk-and-talk therapy, which involves conducting sessions outdoors, using nature as a co-therapist. This approach can be especially beneficial for those who find traditional face-to-face counselling too intense or restrictive.
Before starting, I conduct an assessment to determine your suitability for this therapy. During our sessions, we use movement, nature, and metaphor to uncover emotions, thoughts, fears, and desires.
A Supportive Environment
Choosing a counsellor and attending your first session can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to counselling or coaching. 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 seven 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
- 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
