Paula Smyton, BACP

Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor with ten years of experience working in counselling services, education, mental health settings and private practice. She holds BACP accreditation and brings a calm, patient presence to sessions. Paula helps people who feel drained by anxiety, low mood, relationship strain or big life changes. She aims to make the first step into therapy feel manageable and straightforward.

Her work is rooted in psychodynamic therapy, which looks at how past experiences and relationship patterns shape present feelings and reactions. Paula also draws on client-centred ways of working and solution-focused ideas, tailoring conversations to what a person needs in the moment. This mix means therapy can include gentle reflection on the past alongside practical steps for coping now.

Paula often helps people who are juggling several pressures at once - parenting demands, family conflict, career stress or grief. She offers a space to talk through recurring patterns and emotional responses without pressure to have answers. Together she supports people to make sense of what they are living through and to try small, manageable changes.

Sessions are practical and compassionate. Paula listens for what matters most and helps set a clear direction when that is helpful. She encourages realistic goals and new ways of managing difficult feelings.

People do not need a neat list of goals to begin. Paula welcomes those who are unsure and those ready to work on specific issues. Her aim is to create a respectful, thoughtful space where change can begin to feel possible.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Paula commonly uses psychodynamic therapy to look at how past relationships and experiences influence present feelings and behaviour. This approach helps people spot recurring patterns and understand why certain situations trigger strong emotions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another element she uses; ACT focuses on noticing thoughts and values-based action to help people move forward despite difficult feelings. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques may also be used for practical tools to manage anxiety, low mood and unhelpful thinking.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. Paula will work with each person to understand goals, preferences and the issues that matter most. Together they choose methods that feel like a good fit, and that can be adjusted as the work progresses.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a fuller connection is helpful. Phone sessions suit those who prefer not to be on camera or need a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for ongoing support between sessions or when writing feels easier than speaking. These options make therapy easier to fit around work, childcare and travel, while keeping the focus on what will help most.