Paula Clifton

Paula Clifton is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has three years of professional experience in the UK. She works with people facing stress and anxiety, grief and loss, sleep difficulties, and major life changes. Paula often supports those dealing with relationship strain, self-esteem concerns, career uncertainty and compassion fatigue.

In sessions she uses clear, conversational approaches. Paula listens for what matters most and helps clients name the problems that feel stuck. She draws on client-centred methods to follow the client’s lead and on cognitive behavioural techniques to spot patterns of thinking and behaviour that keep problems going.

Paula also offers hypnotherapy as a tool some clients find useful for habit change, relaxation and managing sleep issues. She explains the options and checks what fits each person’s situation. Sessions are carried out in English and she accepts international clients.

Her background is practical rather than academic. Over three years she has worked with a wide range of concerns, including adoption and foster care, caregiving stress, chronic illness and body image worries. Paula encourages straightforward conversations about symptoms, daily routines and realistic steps to try between sessions.

For someone unsure what to do next, she aims to make talking about the next steps manageable. The first session focuses on what the client wants to address now and what a small, realistic first step might look like.

How Paula applies therapy approaches online

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s priorities. Online sessions using this approach mean the counsellor checks what matters most and shapes each meeting around the person’s concerns and goals. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works by identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits and testing small behaviour changes. Delivered remotely, CBT can include talking through examples, setting practical tasks and reviewing outcomes between sessions. Hypnotherapy is used by some clients to support relaxation, behaviour change and sleep management and involves guided techniques to encourage calm and focused attention.

Deciding which approach to use is part of the work together. Paula will discuss options, try methods in-session and adjust the approach based on the client’s reactions, goals and preferences. The process is collaborative and practical rather than prescriptive.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some formats may be better for quieter or longer conversations, while others suit quick reviews or practical CBT tasks. Discussing format preferences is part of the initial matching and scheduling step with the service.