Paula Otley, BACP, NCPS

Paula Otley is a counsellor accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with 16 years of experience supporting people through loss and other life challenges. She draws on person-centred and psychodynamic work, and adds cognitive behavioural approaches where useful. Paula meets people as they are and works alongside them to address practical concerns like anger, grief, anxiety and relationship strain.

Her path began in bereavement support, sitting with people during difficult times. That long experience shaped a relational way of working and led her to train as an integrative counsellor. She practises from a relational perspective, combining person-centred listening with psychodynamic ideas about patterns and past influences.

In 2020 Paula added cognitive behavioural therapy to her approach, offering straightforward tools for thoughts and behaviour alongside deeper reflective work. She has experience across GP practice, NHS roles, charities, community counselling, private practice and employee assistance programmes. This gives her a broad view of how life stresses show up day to day.

Sessions focus on what the person wants to change, whether that is managing anger, coping with loss, building self-esteem or handling workplace stress. Paula works together with clients to pick approaches that suit the issue and the individual. She supports practical steps as well as understanding the feelings behind them.

Paula offers counselling in English and accepts international clients. To begin clients use the site process to complete a short matching questionnaire and book their first session. Her fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online work