Paula Smyton, BACP

Paula Smyton is a UK-based counsellor and integrative practitioner with around 10 years of experience working across counselling services, education, mental health settings and private practice. She is a psychodynamic practitioner and a qualified teacher who holds membership of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which reflects her professional standing in the field.

Many people who seek Paula's support have spent a long time managing alone, appearing to cope outwardly while privately struggling with anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, family challenges, stress, loss or the strain of life transitions. Some arrive feeling emotionally exhausted from long-held responsibilities or recurring interpersonal patterns, or with a sense that something does not feel quite right. Paula offers a thoughtful and compassionate space to pause, reflect and begin to make sense of these experiences without pressure to have everything resolved at once.

Her work is grounded in psychodynamic therapy, exploring how past experiences and habitual relationship patterns influence present thoughts, feelings and interactions. She also integrates person-centred and solution-focused elements so that therapy can be tailored to each person’s needs and circumstances. Much of her practice focuses on relationships - with partners, family, friends, colleagues and the self - helping people identify recurring patterns, understand emotional responses and find greater clarity. Paula aims to create a calm, respectful and responsive environment where people can be heard and supported through life’s challenges.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Psychodynamic therapy looks at how earlier relationships and life experiences continue to shape current emotions and patterns of relating. It can help people who struggle with recurring relationship issues, low mood, or a sense of being stuck by offering a way to understand underlying dynamics and emotional responses.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasises an empathic, non-directive relationship in which the therapist listens closely and supports the person to find their own insights and solutions. This approach is useful for people seeking a compassionate, accepting space to explore feelings, identity and personal values.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, stress and low mood. It is often used alongside other approaches when short-term strategies and symptom relief are a priority.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Paula will work collaboratively to identify what fits best with a person’s needs, goals and preferences. This exploration is shared and adaptive rather than fixed, allowing therapy to evolve as needs change.

Online therapy offers flexible access to support through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions around work, family life or geographic distance, and support ongoing continuity of care for both local and international clients.