Paula Yanis

A conversation with Paula Yanis

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I was drawn to counselling through a longstanding interest in understanding people, relationships, and what helps individuals navigate life's challenges and grow. Throughout my work in community services, disability support, and crisis intervention, I saw the profound difference that being genuinely heard, understood, and supported can make in someone's life.
  
  Counselling combines my passion for connection, wellbeing, and helping people recognise their strengths and potential. I value the opportunity to walk alongside people during difficult times, supporting them to gain insight, build resilience, and create meaningful change. It is a privilege to be trusted with people's stories, and that privilege continues to inspire and motivate my work every day.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My professional development has been influenced by person-centred, humanistic, and mindfulness-based approaches. I am particularly drawn to the belief that people have an innate capacity for growth, healing, and self-discovery when provided with a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental environment.
  
  The work of Carl Rogers has strongly influenced my commitment to empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. I am also influenced by mindfulness principles, which encourage present-moment awareness, self-compassion, and acceptance. These approaches are complemented by trauma-informed practice, recognising the importance of safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment in the therapeutic relationship.
  
  Together, these perspectives shape a warm, respectful, and collaborative approach that honours each person's unique experiences, strengths, and goals.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am particularly interested in resilience, emotional wellbeing, personal growth, and the ways people adapt to life's challenges and transitions. I am drawn to understanding how relationships, life experiences, and our connection with ourselves influence wellbeing across the lifespan.
  
  My work often focuses on supporting people experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, suicide bereavement, burnout, relationship challenges, and periods of change or uncertainty. I have a particular interest in supporting people navigating loss, helping them make sense of their experiences while honouring their unique grief journey.
  
  I am also interested in mindfulness, creativity, and the role that connection—to self, others, and the natural world—can play in healing and growth. At the heart of my practice is a belief that every person has strengths and inner resources that can be nurtured to support greater wellbeing, self-understanding, and a more meaningful life.

• What methods do you use?

  I use a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, drawing on traditional talk therapy, mindfulness-based practices, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused approaches. My work is tailored to each individual's needs, goals, and strengths, recognising that every person's journey is unique.
  
  CBT techniques can help identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, while Solution-Focused approaches support clients to recognise existing strengths, build on what is working, and move towards meaningful goals. Where appropriate, I also incorporate creative activities, reflective exercises, and nature-based approaches, including walk-and-talk sessions.
  
  Above all, I focus on building a safe, collaborative therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, respected, and supported to develop insight, resilience, and practical strategies for navigating life's challenges.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Progress looks different for everyone, and there is no set timeline. Some clients begin to feel a sense of relief after the first few sessions simply by having a dedicated space to talk openly and feel heard. For others, meaningful change develops more gradually as new insights, skills, and patterns emerge over time.
  
  I encourage clients to view progress as more than just symptom reduction. It may include increased self-awareness, greater confidence, improved coping strategies, stronger relationships, clearer boundaries, or feeling more able to navigate life's challenges. Throughout the counselling process, we regularly reflect on goals and recognise the small but important changes that contribute to lasting growth and wellbeing.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has deepened my self-awareness, strengthened my resilience, and reinforced the importance of self-compassion. Like many people, I have experienced life's challenges, transitions, and periods of uncertainty. Having the opportunity to reflect, gain perspective, and develop practical strategies has helped me navigate these experiences with greater clarity and confidence.
  
  My personal mindfulness practice has also supported me to slow down, stay present, and maintain balance. These experiences have strengthened my belief in the value of counselling and the positive impact that being heard, understood, and supported can have. They continue to inform the empathy, authenticity, and respect I bring to my work with clients.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I enjoy most about being a therapist is the opportunity to build genuine connections with people and support them through important moments in their lives. It is a privilege to be trusted with someone's story and to create a space where they feel safe, heard, and understood.
  
  I find it incredibly rewarding to witness the moments when clients gain insight, recognise their strengths, develop new ways of coping, and move towards the life they want to live. Whether the changes are small or significant, seeing people grow in confidence, resilience, and self-understanding is both meaningful and inspiring.
  
  I also value that no two people are the same. Every client brings a unique story, perspective, and set of strengths, making the work continually engaging and deeply rewarding.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely! I'm human, and yes, I have days where things don't go to plan, and moments when life feels messy or challenging.
  
  One of the reasons I value authenticity in therapy is because I don't believe anyone has life perfectly figured out all the time. Being a therapist doesn't mean being immune to stress, uncertainty, mistakes, or difficult emotions. It means having awareness, support, and strategies to navigate them.
  
  I think there can be comfort in knowing that therapists are people too. While the focus of counselling is always on the client, I bring my humanity to the work alongside my professional training, recognising that growth, resilience, and self-compassion are lifelong practices rather than destinations.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  One of the most significant challenges we face today is disconnection — from ourselves, from one another, and from the communities and environments that sustain us. Despite being more connected through technology than ever before, many people experience loneliness, isolation, overwhelm, and a sense of not belonging.
  
  This disconnection can contribute to many of the issues we see across society, including mental health challenges, relationship difficulties, social division, and reduced wellbeing. While there are many complex global issues requiring attention, I believe fostering genuine connection, compassion, understanding, and community is fundamental to addressing them.
  
  In my work, I see the importance of creating spaces where people feel heard, valued, and connected. Small acts of empathy, kindness, and meaningful human connection can have a powerful impact on both individual wellbeing and the wider community.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  A book that has inspired me is Rising Strong. Its message about courage, vulnerability, and finding strength through life's challenges aligns closely with my approach to counselling and personal growth.
  
  One of my favourite films is Amélie, which celebrates connection, kindness, creativity, and finding beauty in everyday moments.
  
  A song that resonates with me is I Am Here by P!nk, for its themes of resilience, authenticity, and belonging.
  
  I am also inspired by community events that bring people together to connect, celebrate, and support one another. Whether it's a local festival, community gathering, shared meal, or creative event, I value the sense of belonging, connection, and collective wellbeing that emerges when people come together. These experiences remind me of the importance of relationships, community, and our shared humanity.