- Person-centred approach
- CBT informed techniques
- Bereavement experience
About Paula
Paula Otley is a counsellor who meets people where they are and helps them face everyday worries. She offers calm, steady support for issues like stress, anxiety, grief and low self-esteem. Paula also addresses practical concerns such as sleep, eating, addictions and career stress. She uses a blend of talking approaches and simple tools to help people change unhelpful thoughts and habits.
Paula trained as an integrative counsellor with a focus on person-centred and psychodynamic approaches. She also completed further training in cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, in 2020 to broaden her toolbox. Paula holds BACP and NCPS credentials and brings 16 years of experience supporting people through loss and major life changes.
Her work grew from long stewardship as a bereavement support volunteer, where she sat with people in some of their darkest days. That experience shaped a relational style that values safety and steady presence. Sessions aim to build a reliable working relationship and to find practical ways to manage feelings and unhelpful patterns.
In practice Paula uses listening, reflective conversation and evidence-informed techniques to help people notice and change everyday thoughts and routines. She will work collaboratively to set small, achievable goals and to try strategies between sessions. The emphasis is on realistic steps that fit family and work life.
Paula has worked in GP practices, the NHS, charities, community counselling services, private practice and employee assistance programmes. Whatever the pathway, she aims to walk alongside people and do the work together.
Paula trained as an integrative counsellor with a focus on person-centred and psychodynamic approaches. She also completed further training in cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, in 2020 to broaden her toolbox. Paula holds BACP and NCPS credentials and brings 16 years of experience supporting people through loss and major life changes.
Her work grew from long stewardship as a bereavement support volunteer, where she sat with people in some of their darkest days. That experience shaped a relational style that values safety and steady presence. Sessions aim to build a reliable working relationship and to find practical ways to manage feelings and unhelpful patterns.
In practice Paula uses listening, reflective conversation and evidence-informed techniques to help people notice and change everyday thoughts and routines. She will work collaboratively to set small, achievable goals and to try strategies between sessions. The emphasis is on realistic steps that fit family and work life.
Paula has worked in GP practices, the NHS, charities, community counselling services, private practice and employee assistance programmes. Whatever the pathway, she aims to walk alongside people and do the work together.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused Therapy
Experience
16+ years
Credentials
BACP · United Kingdom, NCPS · United Kingdom
Languages
English
How Paula’s approaches shape online therapy
Paula combines person-centred and psychodynamic work with cognitive behavioural ideas to help people understand thoughts and habits. Person-centred work means the conversation stays focused on the person’s experience, with the counsellor offering empathy and reflection to make sense of feelings. Psychodynamic ideas look at recurring patterns and relationships to uncover why certain habits or reactions keep happening.CBT gives straightforward strategies to change unhelpful thinking and routines, such as testing anxious thoughts or setting small behavioural experiments. These methods are helpful for worries about sleep, anxiety, low mood, and everyday habits that get in the way of functioning.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Paula will collaborate with each person to choose methods that suit their needs, goals and preferences. She aims to be flexible and will adjust techniques as things evolve.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and travel, reduce commuting time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find it simpler to try exercises between sessions when they are already in their usual setting.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Paula commonly help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and low self-esteem, plus related issues such as sleep, eating, addictions and relationship difficulties.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is relational and person-centred, with practical use of CBT tools when helpful. Sessions focus on listening, reflection and small, doable changes.
How much experience does she have?
Paula has 16 years of experience, including long-term bereavement support work and roles in NHS and community settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds BACP and NCPS credentials and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported and can she see international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Paula?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.