Paula Smyton

Paula Smyton is a UK counsellor with around 10 years of experience who works with people facing relationship and emotional wellbeing challenges. She holds BACP accreditation, and has practised across counselling services, education, mental health settings and private practice. Paula aims to offer a calm, non-judgemental space where clients can slow down and talk through what feels difficult right now.

Clients often come with anxiety, low mood, stress, grief, or confusion about relationship patterns. She also supports people dealing with parenting strain, family tensions, anger and changes in work or life circumstances. Paula meets each person where they are and does not expect perfect answers on the first visit.

Her work draws on psychodynamic therapy to look at how past experiences shape current feelings and relationships. She mixes this with person-centred and solution-focused ideas so sessions can be tailored to practical concerns as well as deeper exploration. Paula uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques when these fit the goals of the work.

In sessions she listens closely and helps people notice patterns, try small changes, and build clearer responses to difficult moments. The focus can shift between making sense of emotional history and learning skills for coping with stress, low mood, or anger. The pace is set by the client, with an emphasis on collaboration and steady progress.

Paula welcomes conversations about practical next steps and will work with clients to set priorities. She supports people who are figuring out how to move forward after loss, trauma, or ongoing life pressures, and aims to make therapy a manageable part of everyday life.

How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions

Psychodynamic therapy looks at how early experiences and recurring patterns influence feelings and relationships today; it can help when someone wants to understand why they repeat the same reactions. Client-centred work focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the person, helping them feel heard and clearer about their own choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical steps to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, which can be useful for anxiety, low mood, sleep or anger.

Paula will work collaboratively to decide which approach or mix of approaches suits each person's needs and goals. Finding the right method is part of the work together, with adjustments made as the therapy develops and priorities become clearer.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not detailed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use tools from CBT and DBT in real time with their counsellor, and supports steady progress when juggling family or work commitments.