Paul Schofield

Are you anxious, stressed, depressed? Are you feeling unfulfilled and stuck, and finding it hard to move forward in your life? Sometimes we all need a safe and confidential space to talk in finding a way through. Working in Barnet in North London and previously in both Yorkshire and West London, I bring many years Counselling/Psychotherapy experience and a thoroughly up-to-date approach in helping people deal with a wide variety of emotional difficulties, including: Depression, anxiety and panic attacks, relationship problems, low-self esteem, loss and bereavement, addiction, obsessive compulsive problems, trauma and phobias (see separate page on phobia/trauma treatment). I offer both short-term (e.g. 2 to 6 sessions ) therapy and longer term, more ongoing counselling/psychotherapy, depending upon client need. Take the first step towards your emotional health and contact Paul in confidence for a free initial telephone conversation.

I trained as an Integrative Counsellor and is also influenced by other approaches such as Gestalt, and in particular the Human Givens model developed by the Psychologist Joe Griffin and therapist Ivan Tyrrell. I am a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Accredited and Registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist with over 20 years' experience in providing short and long term therapy on a very wide range of issues. I work within the BACP Ethical Framework to provide Counselling which is non-judgemental, confidential and fully in the service of my client. I have been working in private practice for over ten years, and previously worked for many years as a member of Kingston University Counselling Service with students and staff, as a Counsellor and Mental Health Advisor, and as a Student Counsellor at the University of London Birkbeck College. I have also worked in the addictions field as a Counsellor for Kingston Addiction Support and Care Agency.

Addictions, Depression, anxiety and panic attacks, relationship problems, low-self esteem, loss and bereavement, addiction, obsessive compulsive problems, trauma and phobias (see separate page on phobia/trauma treatment).

Working with someone who is trained to deal with psychological (and sometimes associated physical) distress offers the chance for a person to gain a greater understanding of themselves and their problems, in talking with the Counsellor. This confidential conversation can potentially help us to see things that we haven't previously been aware of, to view things from a new perspective and open up new choices. There is rarely a ‘one size fits all' solution, but Counselling can sometimes offer concrete and specific ways to approach problems such as low self-esteem, worry, anxiety and depression. I may therefore at times offer suggestions, information and advice, and in this I'm informed by an up-to-date understanding of how certain problems occur and perpetuate. Equally, sometimes the relationship developed with a Counsellor may itself play a central role in repairing old hurts, in changing the way we feel about ourselves, and also as a result our relationships with others. It is the willingness of both parties to explore the problem which can produce the solution, and in this I bring my skills,knowledge and experience, warmth and compassion.