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Portrait of Paul Cleland

Directory entry · Ref 208900

Paul Cleland, BACP

Gentle somatic counselling for emotional healing

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01

About Paul

Paul Cleland is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. He supports people dealing with relationship strain, grief, anger and major life changes. He also focuses on compassion fatigue, guilt and shame, isolation and building self-love.

Paul draws on ten years of professional experience and a belief that each person knows their own story best. He uses gentle questions and listening to help people notice patterns and strengths they already have.

02

How Paul works

He blends attention to thoughts with attention to bodily sensations to make sense of emotional blocks. His practice brings together somatic work and Internal Family Systems ideas. Somatic Therapy looks at how feelings show up in the body and uses simple body-awareness techniques to help release tension.

Internal Family Systems helps people understand the different parts inside them and how those parts interact. Sessions are offered in English and Paul accepts international clients. Meetings can take place by video call, phone session, live chat or text-based messaging.

Costs vary by location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, a person selects the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire and then schedules according to therapist availability. Paul aims to support people who want practical ways to feel calmer, more connected and more in control of their lives.

Paul lists 2 ways of working on the entry:

03

What Paul works with

The areas below are the ones Paul selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.

Also listed

04

Training and background

Register BACP
Years in practice 10
Languages English
Session format Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging
Country United Kingdom

Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.

05

Online support options

How somatic and parts work translate to online therapy

Paul uses Somatic Therapy to help people notice how emotions show up in the body. That can mean simple breathing, posture checks or guided attention to physical sensations to reduce tension and increase calm. This approach can help with anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm.

He also draws on Internal Family Systems to map different parts inside a person and how they relate. Sessions use gentle questions to identify protective parts and the more vulnerable parts beneath them. This work helps people understand inner conflicts and move toward self-compassion.

Finding the right approach is treated as a joint process. The therapist will talk through goals and preferences and adapt techniques so they suit the person’s needs. Together they decide whether to focus more on body-based practices, parts work or a blend of both.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone session, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy easier to fit in. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction and body awareness work, phone sessions can be used when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can suit shorter check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options aim to give flexibility and accessibility while keeping the therapeutic process clear and practical.

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06

Common questions

What concerns can Paul help with?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression, as well as grief, anger and coping with life changes. He also focuses on compassion fatigue, guilt and shame, isolation and self-love.
What is Paul’s therapeutic style?
He combines somatic work with Internal Family Systems ideas and uses compassionate inquiry. Sessions involve noticing thoughts and body sensations and gentle exploration of internal parts.
How much experience does he have?
Paul has ten years of professional counselling experience working in these areas.
What credentials and region are listed?
He is listed with BACP and practises from the United Kingdom.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
People can meet by video call, phone session, live chat or text-based messaging depending on their needs.
How does payment work?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

A practical next step

Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.

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