Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
How Paula works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- North Carolina
- Years in practice
- 20
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Paula
Paula Patterson is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience helping people handle strong emotions and life stresses. She works with people facing anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, grief, relationship strain, and the fallout from trauma and abuse. Paula aims to make therapy straightforward and practical for someone feeling overwhelmed.
She uses clear, problem-focused methods to break big issues into manageable steps. Paula helps people notice patterns like obsessive thinking, compulsive behaviors, or self-harm urges, and then build new habits to reduce their impact.
Background and approach
She also supports those coping with bipolar mood swings, seasonal mood changes, and compassion fatigue. Paula blends several approaches to match each person’s needs. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and on acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values and get unstuck.
Attachment-informed perspectives help when past relationship wounds affect current connections. Sessions are practical and paced to what someone can handle. Paula offers guidance on communication, emotion regulation skills, and steps to handle setbacks without judgment.
She pays attention to how life roles like parenting or work stress shape emotional strain. Paula practices in North Carolina and works in English. Her background as an LCSW means she brings both clinical experience and an emphasis on real-life strategies.
If someone needs steady support through major life changes, she focuses on helping them build resilience and clearer next steps.
What Paula works with
Everything Paula lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Paula's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Jealousy
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Personality disorders
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
Approaches Paula lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Paula’s approaches translate to online work
Paula often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT is a hands-on approach for anxiety, depression, compulsive patterns, and anger management that focuses on practical skills and short-term goals.She also draws on acceptance and commitment therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values, even when emotions are difficult. This approach is useful for chronic stress, grief, and mood concerns. Attachment-informed work looks at how early relationship patterns show up now and helps people practice safer ways of connecting with others.
Finding the right mix of methods is a collaborative process. Paula will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, try approaches that fit the situation, and adjust based on what helps. The focus is on testing practical tools and building routines that work in daily life.
Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skills practice, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports quicker check-ins, and messaging lets people follow up between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to keep work moving forward across different settings.
Questions people ask about Paula
What kinds of problems does Paula help with?
She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, grief, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, and related concerns like OCD patterns, self-harm, and seasonal mood changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Paula uses a practical, empathetic style that focuses on clear steps and skill-building. Sessions often mix talking, behavior change work, and exercises to practice between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience as a licensed social worker working with complex emotional and behavioral issues.
Where is she licensed and based?
Paula is an LCSW licensed in North Carolina and provides services while located in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not work with international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Paula offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Fees vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on availability.