About me
Hi, I’m Paula, and a warm welcome to my page.
Life can feel really overwhelming at times. You might feel stuck or worried about something that’s happening in your life, or just not coping and know something needs to change. Or the pressures of every day life just feel too much.
Sometimes, it can be hard to put these feelings into words, especially if you worry that the people around you might judge you or simply not understand, which can leave you feeling alone and unsure of the best way forward - I can help.
What I can help with
People often come to me who are experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood, self-esteem issues, burnout, trauma and other significant life changes including peri-menopause and menopause. That said, you don’t need to know exactly what you’re struggling with to reach out. We will work with whatever issues you choose to bring to your sessions and work it out together.
I have a particular interest in supporting people with relationships and loss. You may be struggling in your relationship, dealing with family problems, or friendships wearing you down, I’m here to help you explore how it is affecting you, and what you might need to help you make sense of things. You might be feeling confused, hurt, walking on eggshells and people pleasing as a result. Some of these experiences can lead to feelings of guilt, shame and anger, and can affect how you communicate with others and set and maintain healthy boundaries.
I’m an experienced bereavement counsellor. If you’re finding life difficult after loss, or struggling with anticipatory grief, I will offer you a safe, compassionate space to talk, make sense of what you’re feeling, and find ways to rebuild. Loss and grief can feel shattering and ripple out into many areas of life. We are all unique and respond to grief in different ways and sometimes it can be hard to understand or put into words. I’ve volunteered with a bereavement charity for many years, where I’ve had the privilege of supporting people as they navigate grief and loss.
My approach and commitment to you
As an experienced, person-centred counsellor, I will wholeheartedly offer a space where you feel truly heard and understood. You may feel stuck and unsure how to move forward and some people don’t know exactly what’s causing their distress, which can be completely normal. This is where I can help. There’s no pressure, or expectation, just a warm confidential space for you to explore what’s going on for you. I aim to help you make sense of what you’re experiencing, find a way forward and create a sense of ease.
I really care about my clients and the work that I do. I’ve been where you are as a client, and know how hard it can be to find the right counsellor. I’ll meet you with warmth, curiosity, without judgement and welcome all that you bring with respect and acceptance, including the messy, distressing, confusing and painful parts.
I'm open and honest, and clients have described me as warm, with a calm and gentle nature.
Please get in touch
You're very welcome to get in touch to arrange a free, no obligation consultation. It’s understandable to feel nervous about reaching out and wonder whether I’m the right counsellor for you. You don’t need to know exactly what to say. It can be helpful just to briefly share what you’d like support with. From there, I can explain how I work and answer any questions you might have.
You can email, text, or leave a voicemail. If you get in touch via direct email, please check your junk folder for my response, or add a telephone number and I will confirm via text that I have responded.
I really look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest wishes
Paula
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 5 BACP Accredited Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 ABC Counselling Skills
- Level 2 ABC Counselling Concepts
- Cruse Bereavement Support Training in Loss & Grief
- Certificate in Couples Counselling
- Adult Safeguarding Level 3
- ASIST Suicide Prevention
- Working with men training
- Working with Relational Trauma
- Menopause Research
- ADHD/Autism awareness
- Certificate in Working Remotely
Member organisations
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
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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Further information
I offer face to face sessions in Didsbury M20 and remote sessions via Zoom.
