Paul Cleland, BACP

Paul Cleland is a UK-based counsellor with ten years of professional experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, relationship difficulties, grief and major life changes. He draws on a combined focus on mind and body to help people identify strengths and move through emotional blocks that can feel stuck or overwhelming.

Paul uses compassionate inquiry alongside somatic techniques to explore how emotions are experienced in the body and how that awareness can unlock new paths for change. He believes each person is the expert of their own life and aims to create a collaborative space where existing resources and resilience can be noticed and strengthened.

With an interest in areas such as anger, compassion fatigue, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation and self-love, Paul tailors his work to the needs of the individual. He holds BACP, the credential awarded by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and brings a supportive, empowering approach to the process of change and personal growth. He is available to work with clients in the United Kingdom and with international clients who seek help in English.

Somatic and IFS Approaches for Online Therapy

Somatic therapy focuses on the relationship between the body and emotions, using gentle awareness of physical sensations to help release emotional tension and access resources that support healing. It can be useful for people who feel emotions are held in the body or who want a more embodied way to work through stress, anxiety and trauma responses. Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites people to understand their inner parts - different feelings, beliefs and impulses - and to develop a compassionate leadership within themselves that helps those parts cooperate. IFS can help with self-criticism, shame, relationship patterns and complex emotional states.

Finding the right approach is part of the work, and Paul takes a collaborative stance to help determine what will fit best for each person based on their needs, goals and preferences. He combines clinical methods with the client’s own strengths, checking in and adapting the approach as therapy unfolds.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer practical flexibility for people with busy lives, mobility limits or those living outside the therapist's immediate area. These options make it easier to maintain regular sessions, access different formats of support, and continue therapy in a way that aligns with everyday commitments while working with registered professionals and therapists experienced in remote care.