Paula Reilly, BACP

Paula Reilly is a BACP counsellor based in the United Kingdom who supports people facing midlife crisis, stress, anxiety, relationship strain and major life changes. She offers a warm, non-judgemental space where individuals can talk through painful events and make sense of what comes next. Paula aims to help people find practical ways to move forward and regain a sense of purpose.

Her background includes a Bachelor of Honours degree in counselling from Staffordshire University. She draws experience from working with people affected by complex trauma, and has a professional interest in supporting parents and caregivers to strengthen their skills. She also works with couples to help improve relationship awareness and communication.

Paula’s style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She helps people identify realistic next steps and tries to keep sessions focused on what matters to each person. Practical tools and reflective conversation are combined to address current problems and longer-standing patterns.

She uses a mixture of approaches such as attachment-based work, client-centred ways of listening, cognitive behavioural techniques and narrative and mindfulness methods. These approaches are woven together to suit individual needs rather than following a fixed formula.

Paula encourages people to think about therapy as a gradual process. She supports clients through grief, parenting pressures, career crossroads, intimacy concerns and issues like guilt, shame or loneliness. If someone is unsure where to begin, she works with them to find a sensible first step.

How Paula’s approaches translate to online work

Attachment-based work focuses on patterns in close relationships and how early bonds affect current connections; it can help with intimacy issues, trust and long-standing relationship patterns. Client-centred therapy emphasises being listened to without judgement and helps people clarify their own goals and values through open conversation. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at how thoughts, feelings and actions interact and provide straightforward strategies to change unhelpful habits and manage anxiety or low mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process and will be decided together. Paula will talk with the client about goals, preferences and what feels helpful, then adapt methods to fit each person. The work is collaborative and can change as needs evolve.

The biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by avoiding travel or fitting a short check-in during a lunch break. It can also allow people to choose whether they use video, audio or another supported method where available, which may suit different energy levels and practical needs.