Hi, I’m Paula.
An experienced, compassionate and friendly CBT therapist based in West Lancashire, with 20 years' experience including over a decade working within the NHS. I'm accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA), and currently serve as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Chester.
I offer a range of CBT services for people seeking talking therapy, as well as clinical supervision for mental health professionals and trainee CBT practitioners. My work is grounded in a simple purpose: to support people in making positive, lasting change. Whether you're here for therapy or supervision, I bring the same commitment - support that's practical, thoughtful, and tailored to your individual needs.
I offer therapy sessions on a private basis, including through a number of insurance providers such as Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vita Health and WPA.
Qualifications and Experience
I have over 20 years' experience as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, including 12 years within the NHS. Since 2021, I've continued this work in private practice, supporting a diverse range of clients presenting with low mood, anxiety, and related difficulties. This has included, in collaboration with Arian Wellbeing, providing 1:1 therapy sessions with an interpreter to support members of the refugee community.
Since 2018, I've worked as a Clinical Supervisor, supporting both trainee and qualified CBT therapists with structured, evidence-based supervision to guide their professional growth.
I hold a Senior Lecturer position in Psychology at the University of Chester, where I teach on the Postgraduate Diploma in High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I'm a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA), and in this role I supervise students on clinical placements, assess clinical competence, and provide feedback to support their progress. I'm also responsible for developing and maintaining the e-portfolio system used to track clinical learning, and I lecture across several core modules on the programme.
You can find out more about my qualifications and experience on my LinkedIn profile.
What is CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy underpinned by the theory that our thoughts, how we feel and what we do are all interconnected, and that if we work on one of these areas, we can break out of unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
Why do I practice it
CBT is proven to be effective in helping people overcome a variety of different problems, and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
