Counsellor profile
Paula Smyton, BACP
Based in United Kingdom ยท 10 years of experience
Psychodynamic and integrative counsellor
Continue with PaulaAt a glance
- Registration
- BACP, United Kingdom (82625)
- Qualifications
- BACP
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Based in
- United Kingdom
Details come from information Paula supplied to BetterHelp.
- Relationships and intimacy
- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and trauma
About Paula
BACP. 10 years' experience. Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor who works with relationship difficulties, stress, anxiety, depression and a wide range of life challenges. She uses psychodynamic and integrative methods, and lists approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and solution-focused work alongside person-centred practice.
Paula trained as a counsellor and has also worked in education and mental health settings. Her practice often attracts people who have been managing for a long time but are feeling worn down by ongoing worry, family strain, loss or repeated relationship problems. She describes therapy as a place to pause and make sense of what has been happening without pressure to have everything figured out.
In sessions she pays attention to how past experiences and relationship patterns can affect current feelings and behaviour. She draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at those links, while using practical strategies from cognitive and solution-focused approaches when helpful. The mix of methods aims to suit different needs and situations rather than following a single template.
Paula often works on issues around intimacy, grief, trauma and parenting strains, as well as difficulties with eating, sleeping and anger. She also lists work with LGBT concerns, bipolar mood difficulties, low self-esteem and career-related stress. Her work includes talking through recurring patterns and developing clearer ways to cope.
Sessions are conducted in English and she accepts international clients. The counsellor asks prospective clients to use the site matching process to book an initial appointment and to confirm current session options before scheduling.
How Paula uses different therapeutic approaches online
Paula draws on psychodynamic therapy to look at how past experiences and relationship patterns affect present feelings and behaviour. This approach involves talking about personal history and noticing repeated ways of relating that can keep problems going, which can be useful for long-standing difficulties and relationship concerns.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that reflect personal values. ACT can help with anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes by building practical skills for handling difficult feelings.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula aims to agree with each person which methods to try based on their goals and preferences. That collaborative decision is reviewed as therapy progresses so the plan can change if something else would be more helpful.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm the available online options when booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, childcare and travel, reduce time spent commuting, and allow shorter check-ins when a brief conversation will help. Registered or accredited professionals offer online counselling to help people continue therapy without needing to attend in person.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, parenting strains, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career stress and bipolar mood difficulties.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is psychodynamic and integrative, combining person-centred listening with approaches such as ACT, CBT, DBT and solution-focused work as needed.
How much experience does she have?
She has around 10 years' experience working across counselling services, education, mental health settings and private practice.
What professional registration does she hold and where is she based?
Paula is a member of the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with her if I live outside the UK?
Yes. She accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to book?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site's booking flow.
Checking a registration
Professional bodies keep public registers. If Paula lists a membership, you can look it up on that body's own website:
Online counselling is not emergency or medical care. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers