Paula Cleary, BACP

Paula Cleary is a counsellor who helps people who feel overwhelmed, stuck or unsure about next steps. She aims to make things clearer and more manageable so people can start to feel lighter and more hopeful. Paula writes simply and listens closely to what matters to each person.

She uses a calm, person-centred way of working that keeps the client’s experience at the heart of sessions. Paula also draws on existential ideas to help people consider meaning, choice and values when life feels confusing. Mindfulness practices and short, goal-focused techniques are used where they might help someone cope day to day.

With 16 years of experience, Paula has supported people with stress, anxiety and mood problems. She also helps people dealing with relationship strain, grief, difficulties around intimacy and recovery from trauma and abuse. Other areas she commonly addresses include self-esteem, anger and adjusting to life changes.

Common themes Paula sees include abandonment, commitment and communication problems, jealousy and infidelity, and the feelings of emptiness or isolation that can follow major life events. She works with panic, phobias and other anxiety presentations as well as longer-term mood disorders.

Paula is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Her aim is to make therapy straightforward and focused on the practical steps each person wants to take.

How Paula’s approaches work in online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person in front of the counsellor. It prioritises the client’s experience and aims to build understanding through listening and reflection. This approach can help when someone feels stuck or confused about their next steps.

Mindfulness Therapy introduces simple attention exercises and present-moment practices to reduce overwhelming thoughts and physical tension. These techniques are useful for anxiety, panic and day-to-day stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Paula will work with each person to choose techniques that fit their needs, goals and preferences. That means exploring together what feels most helpful and adapting the work as things change.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to give practical flexibility. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation when a longer discussion is needed. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and messaging can suit people who prefer to write or who need support that fits around busy days. These options make it easier to keep therapy going from different places and schedules, while focusing on the same therapeutic aims as face-to-face work.