MindScreening
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Paula Appleton

Counsellor for stress, trauma and life changes

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  • ACT approach
  • CBT methods
  • BSL and SSE

About Paula

Paula Appleton works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and a wide range of other difficulties using an integrative approach. She combines several counselling methods and adapts them for each person, working in line with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical framework. Paula has 14 years of experience as a counsellor and holds BACP and NCPS credentials.

She uses practical talking therapy to address immediate problems and longer standing issues. Sessions focus on what the person brings each week, with space for feelings, thinking patterns and behaviour. Paula aims to make the work manageable and relevant to everyday life.

Her practice covers many concerns, including anxiety, addictions, bereavement, trauma and abuse, relationship difficulties, eating and sleeping problems, parenting and career stress. She also lists ADHD, bipolar, compassion fatigue and issues such as abandonment, attachment and body image among areas she works with.

Paula offers counselling for Deaf and hard of hearing people and supports communication needs; she has qualifications in Signed Supported English (SSE) and British Sign Language at NVQ Level 6. Sessions may be adapted to suit communication preferences and access requirements.

She describes her style as integrative, drawing on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Attachment-Based work and Client-Centred methods. This mix is used to help people think about choices, cope with strong emotions and change unhelpful patterns.

To start, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How Paula uses therapeutic approaches in remote work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take action consistent with those values, while learning to notice difficult thoughts without getting caught up in them. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns and testing small changes to reduce distress and improve coping. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of relating and helps people try new patterns of relating and regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Paula will discuss different ways of working and agree together which methods fit the person's goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process and may involve trying different strategies over several sessions.

The therapist's biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online counselling can help fit sessions around work, study and family life and makes it easier to join from different locations, including internationally. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when needed and ways of communicating that suit Deaf and hard of hearing people, using BSL or SSE skills where appropriate. Registered or accredited professionals can recommend practical arrangements that suit daily routines.

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Sessions take place through BetterHelp by video, phone or messaging. We will earn a commission if you sign up.

Topics Paula lists

Ways of working

Questions about Paula

Does she work with anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety is listed among the presenting issues she addresses in sessions.
What kind of counselling does she offer?
She uses an integrative approach combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Attachment-Based work and Client-Centred methods.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience as a counsellor.
What are her credentials and where does she practise?
She holds BACP and NCPS credentials and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and American Sign Language, and she can use Signed Supported English and British Sign Language skills.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started?
Click the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

This page is based on Paula's public BetterHelp listing and is not written by Paula. It is not a recommendation. If anything here is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.

Online sessions through BetterHelp. We will earn a commission if you sign up. Talk to a counsellor online