Paul Linger, BACP

Paul Linger is a counsellor who supports people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, depression, grief and intimacy-related issues. He also helps with parenting concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions and coping with life changes. Paul holds BACP registration and brings four years of professional experience to his counselling work.

He works in a warm, interactive way that treats people with respect and compassion. Sessions are shaped around the person in front of him, and he aims to help clients spot strengths they already have. Paul believes people are experts on their own lives and helps them put practical steps into action.

Paul has a varied background across mental health services. He has worked with people with autism and additional needs, in addictions and youth work, in social care and most recently within the NHS community mental health service. He also runs a private practice in the United Kingdom.

His approach mixes cognitive behavioural ideas with humanistic, psychodynamic and person-centred methods. That means sessions may include looking at thoughts and behaviours, exploring patterns from the past, and focusing on what matters to the individual now. Paul adapts the plan to fit each person’s goals.

He aims to be practical and supportive, helping people take manageable steps towards change. If someone is ready to work on their wellbeing, Paul offers a collaborative space to begin that process.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It can help with anxiety, stress and moving forward after setbacks. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical techniques to change patterns that cause distress. This approach is often used for anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and choose methods together. That means the plan can change as progress is made and as different needs come up during therapy.

If you are considering online counselling, please check which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy schedule, reduce travel time and allow a shorter check-in when needed. They can also make sessions more practical on days when leaving home is difficult. Confirm the available formats and schedule to see how they might fit with everyday life.