Paula Appleton , BACP, NCPS

Paula Appleton is a qualified counsellor who takes an integrative approach, blending therapeutic methods and tailoring them to each person's needs in line with the BACP Ethical Framework. With professional credentials that include BACP and NCPS, she brings an experienced, principled practice to work with adults and families facing a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. BACP refers to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and NCPS denotes an additional recognised counselling credential, both reflecting professional standards and ongoing development.

She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, grief, eating and sleeping problems, parenting concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD and many related issues. Paula also offers sensitive, accessible support for Deaf and hard of hearing clients and provides therapy in English and American Sign Language to meet varied communication needs.

Paula frames counselling as a space to pause and explore the impact of life events on physical, psychological and emotional well-being. She works collaboratively to identify priorities, tailor interventions, and help clients develop practical coping strategies and insight. Her style is compassionate and practical, aimed at helping people regain balance, restore relationships, and move forward with greater clarity and resilience.

Approaches that guide online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and take committed steps toward those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, depression and challenges that involve avoidance or uncertainty.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns of relating formed in early life and how those patterns show up in current relationships. It is often helpful for relationship difficulties, intimacy-related issues, and problems rooted in loss, abandonment or complex family histories.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, mood concerns, phobias and many day-to-day coping problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Paula works collaboratively with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, adapting techniques as things evolve.

Online therapy with a licensed professional offers flexibility in how sessions take place - video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - so people can access support around work, caregiving or mobility constraints. This variety makes it easier to maintain continuity of care and to try different formats until a comfortable rhythm is found.