Paula Clifton, BACP

Paula Clifton is a counsellor who focuses on helping people manage midlife concerns and the everyday pressures that come with them. She works with stress, anxiety, grief, sleep problems and changes in life circumstances. Paula aims to make the first step feel achievable and acknowledges the courage it can take to begin therapy.

She follows a client-centred way of working that puts the person and their priorities at the centre of each session. That means listening carefully, reflecting what matters to the client and agreeing practical steps together. Paula also draws on cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at thinking patterns and behaviours, and hypnotherapy where appropriate to support relaxation and new ways of approaching difficult memories or habits.

Paula has three years of professional experience in the United Kingdom and holds BACP accreditation, which she uses to guide her practice. Her approach is straightforward and down-to-earth. Sessions aim to be a place to talk through worries, plan small changes and try techniques that can help day-to-day functioning.

People come to Paula for a mix of issues including relationship strain, low self-esteem, parenting stress, career worries, trauma and abuse, and compassion fatigue. She also supports those facing longer term concerns such as chronic illness, ageing matters, adoption and foster care related issues, and body image struggles.

In sessions Paula works at a steady pace with clear explanations and short practical exercises when useful. She encourages people to set realistic goals and reviews progress together so therapy stays relevant to the client's life.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Client‑centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's priorities, and helps people feel heard while they decide what change they want to make. It is useful for working through life transitions, relationship worries and low self-esteem.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviours keep problems going and offers practical exercises to try different ways of thinking and acting. It is often used for anxiety, low mood and sleep difficulties.

Hypnotherapy involves guided relaxation and focused attention to help reduce stress and support new ways of responding to difficult memories or unhelpful habits.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and can adapt the plan as work progresses. That way the work stays relevant and manageable.

Please confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work or family life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Registered or accredited professionals can use different approaches online to help with coping strategies, sleep routines and managing anxiety without promising particular outcomes.