Paula Appleton, BACP, NCPS

Paula Appleton is a qualified counsellor who brings 14 years of experience to an integrative practice, combining therapeutic approaches to meet each person's unique needs in line with the BACP Ethical Framework. She works with individuals across the lifespan and tailors interventions to the presenting concerns, drawing on evidence-informed methods to support change and resilience.

Her areas of practice include stress, anxiety, relationships, family work, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, LGBT issues, grief, intimacy-related concerns, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. She also offers support for more specific topics such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, blended family dynamics, body image, chronic illness and pain, caregiver stress, codependency, commitment issues, and other co-morbid conditions.

Paula is experienced in working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients and remains attentive to communication requirements, using SSE or BSL and holding a BSL NVQ Level 6 qualification. She emphasises a collaborative, client-centered process that provides space to explore how life events affect people physically, psychologically and emotionally. Paula is accredited with BACP and holds NCPS registration, reflecting her professional standing in the field.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and commit to actions that build a meaningful life, while learning practical ways to accept difficult thoughts and feelings. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and coping with life changes.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns formed in early relationships and how they shape present-day connections, helping clients address relationship difficulties, intimacy concerns, and issues rooted in abandonment or adoption and foster care.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and reshape unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, providing structured tools for managing depression, anxiety, phobias, and many day-to-day challenges.

Finding the right fit is part of the therapeutic process. Paula works collaboratively with clients to identify which approaches match their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and may draw on a blend of methods to tailor a plan that feels most helpful.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to access support around work, caregiving, mobility or geographic constraints. Registered professionals can adapt these formats to create consistent, practical sessions that fit into a client’s life while maintaining the therapeutic focus and continuity needed for progress.