About Me

My name is Paula (she/her), I’m an integrative therapist and I want to help you connect well: with yourself, with other people and with the wider world.

Our lives are made up of relationships, but lots of things can get in the way of these being safe and enjoyable - which they should be! I believe that the bond we create together is the most important thing which can help heal and grow these areas of your life.

Deciding which therapist will be able to help you on your journey can be tricky. In this page I have given you some information to help you understand more about me: my approach to counselling, as well as the training and experience that I have. If there is anything you feel unsure about email me and we can have a chat.

My Approach

Relational

Relationships can be one of the best things in life, but they can also do us the most harm. We have all been impacted by the relationships we have had, especially our early relationships with the people who took care of us - these relationships shaped the way we feel about ourselves, other people and the world around us.

I believe that the relationship between you and me is really important. There’s lots of reasons for this - one of them being that for you to feel safe to talk about tricky things, you need to feel comfortable with me. But much more than that, what happens between you and I can be a reflection of the other relationships that you’ve had in your life. We can use that! By focusing on the thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations that come up as we spend time in session together we can gain more awareness of how relationships have impacted you, and explore ways of doing things differently.

Trauma Informed

Traumatic experiences like abuse, bereavement or workplace bullying take your control and choices away from you. The world can feel like a really unsafe place. When you get counselling with me, you can take back control: you decide on our pace, and what you feel comfortable sharing. I’m committed to being straightforward and honest with you; I’ll work with you to identify what you need to feel safe so that we can build that space together.

Being trauma informed means helping you to manage the difficult experiences that come after a traumatic event: like flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks. I will use my experience to help you understand what is happening in your body and brain, and we will practice coping strategies together. Beyond this, we will consider the big questions that can come up: like how to live in a world where something terrible has happened.

Anti-Oppressive

I understand that we aren’t just affected by the relationships with those close to us, we are also impacted by the wider systems around us: things like sexism, racism, homophobia and capitalism. These forces impact the amount of choice we are able to have in our lives, and can make us feel like we aren’t good enough. I understand this through my own lived experience.

Working with me means that all of these factors in your life will be acknowledged, and I won’t pretend that you have control over these big structures. What I will do is support you to understand how you have been impacted by oppression, and how you might be able to use your voice to live the best life that you can, and even make an impact on the world around you.

Education

2022 -2024

Glasgow Council on Alcohol | Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy

I studied a diploma which included 100 clinical hours of work with survivors of trauma. My diploma covered a range of therapeutic approaches and I most often draw from humanistic approaches including person-centred, transactional analysis, integrative and gestalt.

2011-2013

University of Strathclyde | Masters in Social Work

As a social worker I gained a significant understanding of child development and how our childhood experiences impact our mental health and wellbeing as adults. It also means that I feel confident in working with you to manage any risk that you might be facing. For example, if you are in an abusive relationship or experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Skills
& Expertise

I have spent many years working with survivors of gender based violence, particularly rape, sexual abuse and domestic abuse. I’m ready to support you with all the difficult experiences that come after trauma: from flashbacks and panic attacks; to existential questions about how to feel safe in the world again.
I have been a youth worker with LGBTQ+ young people. I welcome all sexual orientations and gender identities in my practice, and feel comfortable supporting you navigate the challenges that may come with this.
I am certified in ASSIST suicide prevention