Paul Linger, BACP

Paul Linger helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and grief. He also supports those dealing with relationship or intimacy concerns, parenting strain, eating and body-image issues, anger, career uncertainty and major life changes. Paul names trauma, bipolar experiences and self-esteem struggles among his areas of focus.

Paul works in a warm, interactive style that aims to make conversations straightforward and useful. He treats people with respect and sensitivity, and believes the person in front of him knows themselves best. He uses that as the starting point for any plan of work.

Paul holds BACP which denotes registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He brings four years of professional therapy experience to one-to-one work. He has also worked across mental health services in the UK for around a decade before this clinical period.

Earlier roles included work with autism and additional needs, addictions, youth work, social care and within a community mental health service in the NHS. That breadth of background informs how he responds when people have overlapping or complex concerns.

In sessions he draws on cognitive and behavioural methods alongside person-centred and attachment-informed ideas. He aims to tailor sessions so the techniques match a person’s goals. Paul frames therapy as practical and collaborative, and focuses on small steps that can make everyday life feel more manageable.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) asks you to notice unhelpful thoughts and to clarify what matters most to you, then take small actions in that direction; it is useful for anxiety, stress and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers concrete strategies to reduce worry, low mood and unhelpful habits. Attachment-Based work focuses on relationships and how early patterns influence current connection and trust, which can help with intimacy, abandonment and relationship struggles.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will listen to your goals and suggest methods that fit your needs and preferences. You and the therapist decide together which tools to try and when to adjust the plan.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy fit into busy lives. Video helps when you want a face-to-face feel, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and suit quick check-ins. Live chat and messaging can be useful for shorter, flexible contact and for keeping momentum between longer sessions. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around work, caring duties and other commitments.