Paula Smyton, BACP
Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor with ten years' experience in counselling services, education, mental health settings and independent practice.
- Stress & Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- +16 more
About Paula
Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor with ten years' experience in counselling services, education, mental health settings and independent practice. She holds BACP accreditation, and works with people navigating anxiety, low mood and relationship problems, including depression. Paula welcomes those who have been coping alone and are ready to talk things through in a calm setting.
People often come to her feeling emotionally tired or overwhelmed by several worries at once.
Background and approach
Paula offers a quiet space to pause and reflect without pressure to have all the answers. Sessions aim to make difficult feelings easier to understand and carry. Her work is grounded in psychodynamic therapy, which looks at how past experiences and relationship patterns shape present feelings and behaviour.
Paula also uses person-centred ideas to keep the work warm and respectful, and solution-focused tools when practical steps are helpful. In practice this means exploring recurring patterns, clarifying emotional responses, and trying small, manageable changes between sessions. Conversations are guided by what matters most to the person in front of her, not a fixed formula.
Paula describes her style as thoughtful and supportive. She helps people make sense of loss, trauma, stress, parenting strains, intimacy concerns and career worries. If someone is unsure where to start, Paula will help them find a first step and build from there.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 82625 | October 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
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Depression
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
Approaches Paula lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- 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 also draws on person-centred therapy, which focuses on listening closely and treating the person with warmth and respect. That style helps people feel heard and develop their own insights. Additionally, Paula uses elements of solution-focused work to identify small, practical steps that can be tried between sessions to ease immediate pressures.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Paula will work with each person to decide which methods suit their needs, goals and preferences. Early sessions are used to get a sense of what feels most helpful, and plans are adjusted as the work progresses.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video lets you use visual cues and a fuller conversational pace. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat or messaging can suit shorter check-ins, day-to-day support or people who process better in writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caring responsibilities and travel.
Frequently asked
What issues does Paula help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family challenges, grief, trauma and related concerns listed on her profile.
What is her general approach in sessions?
Her style combines psychodynamic listening with person-centred warmth and solution-focused techniques to help clarify feelings and try practical changes.
How much experience does she have?
Paula has around 10 years of experience working across counselling services, education, mental health settings and independent practice.
Where is Paula based and what credential does she hold?
She practises in the United Kingdom and holds BACP accreditation as shown on her profile.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and she can work with people internationally.
What session formats are available?
Work can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging according to client preference.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Paula?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.
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