About Paula
Paula Knighton is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Virginia with 25 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for everyday problems like stress, anxiety, addiction, and low self-esteem. Paula aims to make the first step easier for people who feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Her sessions are straightforward and calm. She listens without judgment and helps clients notice what matters most to them. Conversations focus on small, workable steps that fit each person's life and goals.
Background and approach
Paula draws on a few different approaches to tailor care. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral work to spot unhelpful thinking. She also brings Acceptance and Commitment ideas to help people commit to values-based action.
Motivational interviewing is part of how she supports change when someone feels unsure or stuck. Clients often reach out about relationship strain, grief, sleep problems, anger, or changes like divorce and career shifts. She also works with people managing chronic illness, addiction, mood disorders, and ADHD concerns.
Sessions aim to reduce daily friction and boost practical coping skills. Appointments are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. Paula keeps sessions focused and collaborative, helping each person set clear, manageable goals for progress.
Therapeutic approaches that translate well to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small actions that reflect those values. It helps people who feel stuck move toward what matters to them despite difficult thoughts or feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful habits. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and mood regulation. Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change by exploring ambivalence and building internal motivation; it can be useful for addiction and readiness-related concerns.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Paula will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. She uses those conversations to choose or combine approaches so the plan fits the person, not the other way around.
Online sessions are available by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video works well for in-depth conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief updates, coaching-style guidance, or for people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain momentum between sessions.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Also listed
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Hoarding
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Virginia
- Languages
- English
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