Counsellor profile
Paul Cleland, BACP
Counsellor - Stress and anxiety support
See online counselling options- Somatic work
- Internal Family Systems
- Grief and loss
About Paul
Counsellor Paul Cleland is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with ten years' experience working in the United Kingdom. He helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. He also offers support for grief, anger, compassion fatigue and life changes.
Paul uses both mind and body approaches in sessions. He blends somatic work with Internal Family Systems ideas to help people notice where emotions sit in the body and how different inner parts react to stress. Sessions involve guided attention to bodily sensations, and talking to the parts of you that hold difficult feelings.
His way of working is practical and direct. He helps clients identify strengths and small steps they can try between sessions. Conversations aim to make difficult feelings clearer and to reduce the hold of painful memories or shame.
Paul describes clients as the experts in their own lives. He offers a steady presence while helping people test new ways of coping. Over time this can lead to more ease with everyday tasks and relationships.
He accepts people from the UK and internationally and holds sessions in English. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and arrange a first appointment through the site's online booking flow.
Using somatic and parts work for remote counselling
Paul draws on somatic therapy and Internal Family Systems in online work. Somatic therapy focuses on bodily sensations and how tension or physical signs relate to emotions; it can help with anxiety, stress and trauma-related symptoms. Internal Family Systems treats different thoughts and feelings as parts of a person and helps people notice, listen to and work with those parts to reduce internal conflict.Deciding which approach will help most is part of the process. Paul will discuss your needs, goals and preferences and try different ways of working until a comfortable fit is found. That means sessions can include brief body-focused exercises, reflective dialogue with inner parts, and practical steps to try between sessions, chosen together.
The practical benefit of remote sessions is fitting counselling around daily life. Online work can make it easier to attend from work breaks or when travel is difficult, and it allows for shorter check-ins if that helps. Session formats are not specified here, so please confirm current options before booking. Registered or accredited professionals often offer remote sessions to help people maintain continuity of care while managing family, work and other commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does he work with most often?
He commonly helps people with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. He also supports those dealing with relationship difficulties, grief, anger and life changes.
What is his therapeutic approach?
He combines somatic therapy with Internal Family Systems ideas. That means paying attention to bodily sensations and the different inner parts that affect feelings and behaviour.
How long has he been practising?
He has around ten years of professional experience working in counselling and related roles.
Which professional body is he a member of?
He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP.
Can I see him if I live outside the UK?
Yes. He accepts international clients and runs sessions in English.
What formats are offered for sessions?
Session formats are not specified here. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions are arranged through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin with him?
Start by selecting the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.