Paula Mayes
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
As a compassionate and dedicated counsellor, I am committed to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their challenges and emotions freely. With a strong foundation in therapeutic techniques and a client-centered approach, I strive to help individuals, navigate their unique paths to healing and personal growth. I believe in fostering a collaborative relationship, empowering clients to uncover their strengths, gain deeper insights, and work toward meaningful change. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, grief, or life transitions, I am here to walk alongside you, providing guidance and encouragement on your journey to well-being.
At Paula Mayes Counselling, I help clients explore what truly matters to them through meaningful conversations. In today’s world, the pressure to "have it all"—a thriving career, a perfect family life, and personal well-being—can feel overwhelming and lead to stress, self-doubt, and unhappiness. If you're feeling irritable, struggling to sleep, finding it hard to concentrate, or have lost interest in things that once brought you joy, this may be your sign to seek support. Let’s work together to find clarity and restore balance in your life. Reach out today to arrange your first appointment.
Training, qualifications & experience
My journey into counselling began in 2007 with an introductory course that sparked a lasting passion. I completed my 100 hours of supervised client work at the Well Women’s Centre in Wakefield, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as self-harm, childhood trauma, and mental health. Here, I realized that meaningful relationships and well-being are far more important than material success.
While training, I worked at a drug and alcohol clinic, managing a medical team supporting individuals in reducing substance misuse. This challenging role deepened my understanding of the connections between physical and mental health and the broader social issues impacting clients' lives.
In 2010, I earned my Level 4 Diploma in Counselling. After gaining further experience and supervision, I set up my private practice, initially based in a doctor’s office, and later from my home in Middleton, Leeds, where I work with clients facing issues like anxiety, relationship difficulties, and life stress.
In 2013, I joined the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at St. James’s Hospital in Leeds, supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. I also helped establish a monthly support group. This role led me to collaborate with Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity, where I developed a specialized counselling service for brain tumor patients, often supporting those facing significant physical and emotional challenges. During this time, I also trained as a clinical hypnotherapist.
In 2016, I joined Charlie's Angel Centre, a charity offering grief support to families who have lost children. I also achieved BACP accreditation, confirming my commitment to high ethical standards and client-centered work.
My work with various charities has largely focused on bereavement and end-of-life counseling. In 2018, I received additional training with Leeds Bereavement Forum, where I now train other professionals working with bereaved individuals, including social workers, doctors, and carers.
In 2023, I recorded a lecture for Counselling Tutor on Working with Clients who have a Terminal Illness and support students at Leeds Beckett University as they embark on a degree. The link to the Counselling Tutor podcast is below.
https://youtu.be/M5asih7dOKA?si=lurv_IhR6msVf76n
2024 - First Class Bsc Honours Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Throughout my counselling career, I have worked in diverse settings, including the NHS, various charities in Leeds and Wakefield, and my private practice. I am also a freelance trainer, work with Leeds-based universities—including as an associate lecturer at Leeds Beckett—and within healthcare and hospice environments.
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
Due to my work within the bereavement field, I have also worked with clients at the end of their life and with their family members.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
When I work
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