- Person-centred listening
- Psychodynamic insight
- Practical focus
About Paula
Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor with ten years of experience across counselling services, education, mental health settings and private practice. She holds BACP accreditation and combines psychodynamic thinking with an integrative, person-centred stance. Paula aims to offer a calm and compassionate space for people who feel overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted.
Many who come to Paula have tried to cope on their own for a long time. They might be managing outwardly while feeling anxious, low, or strained by relationships, family life or other pressures. She recognises how hard it can be to ask for help and supports people through that first step.
Sessions are straightforward and unhurried. Paula listens closely and helps clients make sense of what is happening in their lives. She pays attention to recurring patterns, family and relationship dynamics, and the ways past experiences shape present responses.
Her way of working blends psychodynamic ideas with person-centred listening and practical, solution-focused elements. This mix lets conversations move between understanding deeper patterns and finding small, useful changes to try between sessions.
Paula often helps people troubled by anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and relationship strain. She also supports those coping with parenting pressures, career stress, eating or sleeping difficulties, anger and identity-related concerns. Her aim is to make therapy feel responsive, steady and tailored to each person’s needs.
How Paula’s approaches translate to online work
Paula uses a mix of person-centred care, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive behavioural techniques. Person-centred work focuses on listening and understanding the person’s experience, helping them feel heard and respected. ACT helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that match their values. CBT breaks problems into patterns of thought and behaviour and works on small changes that can reduce distress.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula will discuss your goals and preferences and together you will decide which methods to use. That choice can change as therapy progresses, with more focus on understanding at some times and on practical skills at others.
Please confirm available session formats before booking, as current options are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow a quicker check-in during a work break. Different approaches suit different moments - for example, short skill-based check-ins work well when needing concrete tools, while longer reflective sessions help with deeper relationship patterns.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does Paula work with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, parenting pressures, grief, trauma, eating and sleeping difficulties, anger, self-esteem, career worries, bipolar and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style combines psychodynamic exploration with a person-centred approach and practical, solution-focused elements to suit individual needs.
What experience does she bring?
Paula has around ten years of experience working across counselling services, education, mental health settings and in private practice.
What qualifications or professional registration does she hold and where is she based?
She is BACP accredited and works from the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
Yes, she accepts international clients.
How are sessions structured and what formats are offered?
Please confirm current session formats before booking so you know which options are available.
How are costs handled and how do subscriptions work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.