Paula Otley, BACP, NCPS
Paula Otley is a counsellor with 16 years of experience supporting people through grief, stress and relationship difficulties.
- Stress & Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- +17 more
About Paula
Paula Otley is a counsellor with 16 years of experience supporting people through grief, stress and relationship difficulties. She works in a calm, down-to-earth way and meets each person where they are. Paula aims to build a steady, trusting relationship that helps people talk through hard moments and plan practical next steps.
Her early work as a bereavement support volunteer shaped her approach. Sitting with people during loss taught her to be present and patient.
Background and approach
That experience led Paula to train as an integrative counsellor, combining person-centred and psychodynamic ideas to focus on relationships and personal history. In 2020 she added cognitive behavioural therapy, using clear tools to help change thoughts and habits that keep problems going. Paula draws on mindfulness techniques to help with stress, sleep and emotional regulation.
She adapts her style to each person rather than following a fixed formula. Her background includes work in GP practices, the NHS, charities, community counselling and employee assistance programmes. Those settings gave her experience with many practical life issues, from career pressure to caring responsibilities and chronic health challenges.
Paula is BACP and NCPS registered in the United Kingdom. She offers sessions in English and accepts international clients. People who want a collaborative, compassionate counsellor who combines relational listening with practical strategies may find her approach helpful.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 381077 | April 2026 |
| NCPS | NCS21-02334 | December 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Paula works with
Everything Paula lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counselling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Paula lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
She blends cognitive behavioural techniques to offer clear, practical steps for managing anxiety, low mood and unhelpful thinking. These techniques are useful for sleep problems, stress and coping with life changes. Together these approaches allow sessions to be both reflective and action-oriented, shaped around each person's goals and preferences.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Paula works collaboratively with each person to agree what to try, reviews what is helping, and adjusts methods over time. That ongoing conversation helps make sure the plan fits the client's needs and circumstances.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video suits deeper conversations and visual cues, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or chat can fit shorter check-ins or busy schedules. These options give flexibility for people juggling work, family or health challenges.
Frequently asked
What concerns does Paula support?
She supports a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions and relationship concerns, plus related topics such as sleep, eating and career stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and person-centred, combining relational listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioural and mindfulness approaches.
What is her background and experience?
Paula has 16 years of experience, starting as a bereavement support volunteer and later working across GP practice, the NHS, charities, community counselling and independent practice.
Which credentials and country are listed?
She is BACP and NCPS registered and practises in the United Kingdom.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and she is able to work with international clients.
What session formats are available?
Paula offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How are sessions paid for?
Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time; specific costs vary with location and therapist choices.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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