- Years in practice
- 25
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- Virginia
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Paula
Paula Knighton is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of experience helping people work through stressful and painful life moments. She practices in Virginia and focuses on practical support for anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and parenting concerns. Paula uses straightforward conversation and steady guidance to help clients take the next steps they want to try.
Clients meet a counselor who prefers an open, nonjudgmental tone. Sessions are a chance to talk through feelings, sort priorities, and test small changes that can make daily life easier.
Background and approach
Paula aims to keep things clear and approachable rather than using jargon. She blends several evidence-informed approaches to fit each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy supports clarifying values and taking action that matters. Emotion-focused methods help people notice and name feelings so they lose some of their intensity. Paula also draws on motivational interviewing when someone is unsure about change.
That work focuses on building motivation and planning steps that feel doable. Over 25 years she has helped people with relationship strain, work stress, trauma, sleep problems, ADHD-related concerns, and mood challenges. Sessions are offered in English and are available by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging.
Paula asks clients to respect scheduled times and notes that late arrivals of 15 minutes or more require rescheduling. To start, a simple matching questionnaire is completed and then appointments are scheduled.
What Paula works with
Everything Paula lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Paula helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Hoarding
- Infidelity
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Workplace issues
Approaches Paula lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- 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.
Therapeutic approaches and how online therapy fits
Paula often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and many daily challenges where changing patterns of thought and action can help.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. ACT can be helpful when someone feels stuck by difficult emotions and wants a values-based way to move forward.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Paula will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and past experiences and then suggest ways of working together. She adapts methods and pacing to what fits each person’s life and readiness for change.
Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let people maintain face-to-face interaction while saving travel time. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a busy day. Live chat and text messaging allow shorter check-ins, ongoing reflection between sessions, and flexible communication when schedules are tight. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while managing work, parenting, and other commitments.
Questions people ask about Paula
What kinds of concerns does Paula help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, grief, sleep problems, anger, career stress, ADHD, and related mood and behavior concerns.
What is her therapy style like?
Sessions are direct and conversational with an open, nonjudgmental tone. Paula focuses on practical steps, clear skills, and helping people try small changes between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
Paula has 25 years of professional experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed as an LPC in Virginia and practices there.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Paula offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How does the cost and getting started process work?
Costs vary with location and scheduling; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select Start Therapy, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to availability.
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