Paula Hamilton

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Dip.C.H.t.,G.H.R.Reg.,S(Snr).Q.H.P.,C.N.H.C.(Hypnotherapy)
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Dundee DD5 & Cupar KY15
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I’m Paula Hamilton Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist with a Discerning Life - therapy for creating a life you feel good about

At a Discerning Life I believe you want to be a person that lives life to the full. In order to do that, you need a life you feel good about. The problem is that life can give you more downs than ups which can make you feel anxious, lost and stuck. I believe that with the right tools and guidance you can learn to handle life's downs skilfully and fully enjoy life’s ups. I understand how it can feel to struggle in a life you don't like which is why I help people create a life they feel good about and a future to be inspired by in a professional, supportive and empathetic space.

The 3 simple steps are

Get in touch
Let’s arrange your first session
We create a plan so you can resolve your issue and move from coping to thriving

Sessions are available in person in my office in Broughty Ferry, Dundee or online.

I often get asked what Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy are. In a nutshell they are ways to help you work through issues that you feel are holding you back from living life the way you want to, provided in a professional, supportive, empathetic and confidential space.

It may be dealing with mental health and wellbeing issues such as anxiety, stress, self esteem or depression. It might be wanting to improve quality of life issues like insomnia or managing pain. Therapy can also help with professional challenges for example public speaking, interviews or workplace stress. Whatever the issue, my job is to help and support you make the change you want and need.

We work together on your issue creating a personalised approach using a variety of tools including Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Counselling and Life Coaching. All the tools come under the umbrella of Brief Therapy which means the goal is short term, solution focused therapy. My goal is always to help you develop the new ideas, perspectives and skills you need in a short time frame so you can get out there and live the life you want free of the issue that brought you into my office.

In sessions I will guide you through the process of how to resolve your issue so you can move from coping to thriving, be equipped to live a life you feel good about and create a future you are inspired by. 

'Truly talented therapists are a relative rarity, so it is an especially welcome chance for me to acknowledge Paula’s skill and integrity. She possesses qualities of clarity in her thinking and kindness in her heart, both key characteristics for someone who is dedicated to helping others improve their lives. I give Paula my highest recommendation.' Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., Psychologist

It is important to know that hundreds of people have resolved the issues that were getting in the way of them living a life they could feel good about with my guidance and support in over a decade in full time, professional practice as a fully qualified Psychotherapist and Senior Hypnotherapist. 

I wholeheartedly dedicate my therapeutic skills and compassion to you so you can master life and live in a meaningful way essentially loving the life you live. Not just coping but thriving.

My philosophy is to partner with you on your journey by providing a plan using well honed therapeutic skills in a safe and confidential environment to facilitate change. My approach is goal and outcome oriented so you come in, get the change you want and need and get back out there living life. I provide highly personalised, flexible support and tailored sessions and am committed to safe practice. 

I simply combine an atmosphere of understanding, compassion and empathy with tried and tested Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy tools to assist you in accessing your resources for change as well as learning new skills, tools and being open to new perspectives and ideas.

I am respectful of the trust you show in choosing me to help improve your quality of life and, in some cases, to share your pain at a deep level. It takes courage to face change and I recognise that making the first contact is often the hardest step. I am here to guide you through the process.

Paula's Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy skills, tools and experience can help in the following areas

Paula works together with clients on:

1. Mental Health & Wellbeing

Anxiety

'Thanks for all the help you have given me over our sessions together. Beautiful work! Quite simply, my life is better because of your skills as a therapist. Please take credit for that.' Patrick

Panic Attacks

‘I can honestly say that my sessions with Paula have had a significant impact on my life. She gave me some tools to work through things and I am in such a better place than before I met her.’ Karen

Low Mood & Depression

'There are really no words to describe the fundamental change to my life since working with Paula.'  Melissa

Stress

‘Paula is both warm and emphatic, which allowed me to be open and honest about personal situations during our sessions. The techniques Paula has taught me and discussions had have allowed me to find peace and acceptance going forward and I can’t thank her enough. Highly recommended’. Nat

Self Esteem & Confidence  

'The time I spent with Paula was meaningful in many ways - I gained personal awareness and became conscious of how I was being in the world, giving me choice to make changes. I gained confidence and found the relaxation exercises relaxing and uplifting. Paula also informed me of reading material and resources that I can call on to enhance our work together in the future. I found Paula very professional and supportive.' Lorraine

Emotional Health & Well-being

2. Quality of Life Issues

Insomnia

'I went to Paula in the hope that she could help me overcome my years of insomnia. Having tried numerous pillows, bedtime regimes, lavender etc. nothing worked. Paula’s lovely manner instantly put me at ease. After the first session I was amazed that instead of staring at the ceiling all night I fell asleep for a few hours.  Then much to my amazement I have continued to fall asleep every night. Paula has given me back something that I had despaired of ever having again – sleep!' Irene

Managing Pain

‘I originally saw Paula in order to get help with losing weight and painful joints, not only have I lost nearly 2 stone but I also changed many bad eating habits. Her help has transformed my life, she has taught me skills that can help me cope much better with many situations, from losing weight, sleep problems, general positive thinking, pain control and relaxation. I never thought it would be as easy as it has been. I can’t thank her enough.’ Anne F

Fears e.g. flying, needles, small spaces, heights etc.

"Thanks to Paula’s guidance, strategies and excellent sessions I took the trip of a lifetime to Japan and coped calmly and easily with all the flights. I now feel the world is my oyster again.’' Kathleen

Relationships - partners, family, social and work

Grief & Loss

Life Transitions - school to university, university to work, single to partnered, partnered to single, work retirement.

3. Workplace Issues

Public Speaking, Giving Presentation and Job Interviews

'I walked into Paula's rooms in the hope she might help me overcome my fear of an upcoming public speech. She helped me with so much more than that in a very short time. We progressed through a series of very natural and comfortable processes that not only helped me understand more about myself and my actions, but which gave me the confidence to believe that change was a very real possibility. With Paula's help, I sailed through my speech with the confidence I had always aspired toward and now have the tools to extend and maintain that confidence in other aspects of my life. I thank Paula from the bottom of my heart.' Alicia

'Paula's down to earth style is great. I learned tools and skills to be able to participate in interviews feeling calm and confident. Presenting the best version of myself.' Charles

Workplace Stress & Anxiety

A personal recommendation brought me to Paula, seeking new conflict management approaches to use in a multicultural work environment. From the very outset I found Paula to be pragmatic and focused on meaningful outcomes, whilst achieving this in a hugely supportive and considerate way. Paula was adept at explaining both the intellectual and emotional aspects of all that we covered and is very skilled at tailoring her own approach to the unique needs and characteristics of each client, both to put them at ease and to allow them to engage fully in finding the solutions that work for them. Whether you already know where you want to focus or don’t know where to start unravelling your knotty problem, I’m confident that Paula’s combination of intellectual clarity and emotional kindness can help you get there!’ David

4. Sport Performance  & Exams / Tests

Professional and Amateur level Sports Performance including Physical Tests such as the beep test and the helicopter rescue test

'Dear Paula, I have passed 2 fitness tests, 1 being the beep test. Thank you so much, without your help I don't think I would've had the confidence to pass them. Everything you said put things in my life in perspective and I'll never forget what you've done for me. Thank you so much again.’ Francesca

Exam Stress and Anxiety including Driving Tests

'I just wanted to reach out and give you a huge thank you. You were working with my son just before lockdown and I just wanted to give you an update. It’s no exaggeration to say you changed his life. Before working with you he could hardly leave the house, couldn’t go to school and couldn’t eat outside the house. He’s now in his second year of a Law Degree having got As in all his school exams, he ended up with 9 Highers all at A grade. It’s so nice to see him enjoy life! Thank you so much, you genuinely changed his life.' P.A.

What is Hypnotherapy?

One of the key concepts of lasting therapeutic change is working with focus. The phrase 'what you focus on you amplify' is central to this idea and can impact quality of life greatly. It is also true that the direction of that focus can define how a person experiences their life. 

The internally focused and absorbed state of hypnosis can assist clients in shifting their focus, disconnecting from unhelpful and uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and sensations and then connecting to helpful and comfortable ones.

It is also an space that allows clients to get absorbed in new ideas, perspectives and possibilities that can help develop and consolidate change through experiential learning which is when a client has an internal experience of the change they want that feels real enough to learn from.

What is Brief Psychotherapy?

Brief Psychotherapy is an umbrella term for a variety of approaches to short-term, solution-oriented psychotherapy. It describes an approach that attempts to make Psychotherapy as efficient and practically helpful as possible within a short time frame.

Brief Therapy differs from other schools of therapy in that it emphasises (1) a focus on a specific problem and (2) direct, experiential intervention.

In Brief Therapy, the therapist and client work proactively together as a team to create the change the client wants. It also emphasises the use of a clients' resources as well as new ideas, concepts, skills, tools and perspectives.

Brief Therapy is often highly strategic, exploratory, and solution-based rather than problem-oriented. It is less concerned with how a problem arose than with the current factors sustaining it and preventing change. Focusing on ‘how’ a client generates an uncomfortable and unhelpful experience rather than ‘why’.

Brief therapists do not adhere to one ‘correct’ approach, but have a flexible personalised approach to working with clients.

What happens in the first session?

The first session is the ideal way of meeting one another and discussing the reason for you wanting to come. During the session, you will be able to describe the situation that you would like assistance with thoroughly and I will go through some information on how we might work together in partnership to find solutions and create lasting change. You can then make a decision if you would like to continue with the process. We can also discuss the number of sessions you would be likely to need. My aim is to help you through your issue as quickly as possible.

Pass It On...many people have shared with others they care about how I’ve helped them

If there is someone in your life that is struggling with an issue they need help and guidance to resolve so they can create a life they feel good about, would you be happy to refer them? For every person you refer you receive one complimentary session (in person or online) (to be used within 6 months from the referral’s first appointment)

Training, qualifications & experience

Dip.C.H.t., G.H.R.Reg., S(Snr).Q.H.P., C.N.H.C.(Hypnotherapy)

I  have a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis & Strategic Psychotherapy, a Diploma in Applied Clinical Hypnotherapy (Dip.C.H.t.) and a Certificate of Hypnosis.

I am a Senior Practitioner with the General Hypnotherapy Register (G.H.R. Reg.) and hold the Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (S.Q.H.P.). I am also an Acknowledged Supervisor with the General Hypnotherapy Register, providing one to one supervision for other therapists. I also have a personal supervisor.

I am registered with the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (C.N.H.C.) for Hypnotherapy.

I am committed to continuing professional development (CPD). Enhancing and updating my skills by regularly participating in trainings with Dr Michael Yapko, PhD, internationally known psychologist, author and contributor to the field of Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis.

For help choosing the right therapist for you, please see Episodes 1, 2 and 3 on my blog series A Roadmap to starting your Therapy Journey on my website - see link above

Episode 1 https://adiscerninglife.co.uk/a-discerning-life/f/la-dolce-vita-series-a-roadmap-to-starting-your-therapy-journey

Episode 2 https://adiscerninglife.co.uk/a-discerning-life/f/la-dolce-vita-series-a-roadmap-to-starting-your-therapy-journey-1

Episode 3 https://adiscerninglife.co.uk/a-discerning-life/f/la-dolce-vita-blog-series-a-roadmap-to-your-therapy-journey

Member organisations

school Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

CNHC
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)

The CNHC encompasses many types of alternative therapy, including hypnotherapy.

In order to be admitted to the register a practitioner must have studied to the National Occupational Standards for that profession/discipline, or have reached the equivalent of the National Occupational Standards through other relevant training or at least three years of experience and been assessed by their peers.

A practitioner must also have professional insurance and agree to abide by the CNHC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.

GHR
The General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)

Hypnotherapists may become members of the General Hypnotherapy Register if they satisfy certain criteria with regard to both training and ongoing requirements as determined from time to time by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC).

Members are either registered at Practitioner status (which confirms that the GHR acknowledges their qualification to practice), or Affiliate status. Although Affiliate level registrants will have completed a sufficient number of training hours to equip them to commence seeing clients on a limited basis, the GHR does not acknowledge them to have yet been trained to full practitioner level.

All GHR Registered Practitioners are required to accept the published Code of Ethics and Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure.

Accredited register membership

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council

Areas of hypnotherapy I deal with

info Information about health conditions (*)

Hypnotherapy can enhance the well-being of individuals diagnosed with serious medical conditions, but should not take the place of medical treatment and advice. If you have been diagnosed with - or suspect you may have - any of these conditions, please speak to your doctor before starting hypnotherapy.

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

Additional information

Please book your free intro call (see button at the top of my profile) so you can tell me what kind of help you are looking for.

Sessions are flexible from weekly to fortnightly and monthly.

Please note: if you have a Private Health Cash Plan that covers Hypnotherapy, Paula's qualifications, General Hypnotherapy Register Senior qualification and C.N.H.C registration under Hypnotherapy may make her a recognised provider (please check with Paula and your cash plan for more details).

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

In Clinic Appointments: Mondays through Thursdays - morning, afternoon and evening appointments available. 

Further information

More detailed Hypnotherapy Testimonials:

'Thanks for all the help you have given me over our sessions together. Beautiful work! Quite simply, my life is better because of your skills as a therapist. Please take credit for that.' Patrick

‘There are really no words to describe the fundamental change to my life since working with Paula.’ Melissa

‘Paula is the most passionate, committed and goal oriented therapist you’ll meet – she puts this forward in the most empathetic and compelling way. She is a true wonder.’ Jacqui

'It is very much Paula’s experience and skill as a practitioner, that I believe have been key to my progress. Through her empathy and care, Paula instantly makes you feel comfortable' Louise

‘Paula helped me shift the way I thought in a very short period of time and it has altered me for life.’ Shelley

‘I can honestly say that my sessions with Paula have had a significant impact on my life. She gave me some tools to work through things and I am in such a better place than before I met her.’ Karen

'Paula, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the help and support you have given me. It has just made such a difference to my life and really helped me to get the perspective and understanding I needed.' Anne

'The only way to describe my experience with Paula is to call it life changing.' Sarah

'Paula has opened my eyes to the experience of truly living life…..not just feeling like a constant observer. She has not only given me the gift of knowledge, but introduced me to tools and skills I now use on a daily basis in helping me become self aware and self confident, of becoming "myself". This experience has changed the perception I had of myself, and in turn the way I interact with family, friends and colleagues. Taking the time to listen to myself and finding out what it is I want has been a big challenge for me, but the comfort, happiness and hope I have received in return, although unexpected, has been an amazing reward. Armed with my new tools, I feel confident in knowing I can trust and rely on myself to be capable of dealing with all that my future holds, and am excited and looking forward to my journey.' Nat

'Having done A LOT of other therapies including Hypnosis, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Kinesiology, Reiki and more for the past 10 years, I can honestly say that the time I have spent with Paula was the fastest and most fruitful way to finally finding the ‘key to the door’ of happiness, a deep sense of calm and some amazing truths about myself and what is possible for me. We spent 5 sessions together, and I now feel the gains of literally years of spoken word therapy. Life is unfolding for me in ways I never thought possible, and I now have ‘take home’ tools I can use on my own to create change and certainty within myself where I thought it impossible. Paula is the most passionate, committed and goal oriented therapist you’ll meet – she puts this forward in the most empathetic and compelling way that feels safe, and turns the light on to what is possible and reachable for us humans! She really is a true wonder.' Jacqui

'The only way to describe my experience with Paula is to call it life changing. I had finally found a guide who could help me navigate my mind, understand my past and interpret my present. She also armed me with tools for the future and forever changed the way I see the world with myself in it. Figuring yourself out with a firm, compassionate and wise guide like Paula will profoundly impact every aspect of your life from your relationship to food and people around you, to the way you hold yourself professionally and see yourself emotionally. If you have ever felt like there is something more to who you have become or are bothered by the way you deal with certain situations in life, pick up the phone and give Paula a call and she will be sure to help you.' Sarah

'Paula is amazing. She certainly in a very short period of time, with very little effort shifted the way I thought and it has altered me for life. She gave me exactly what I was looking for even though I did not know what that was, but it is clear and apparent to me that my life is very different. I know that the catalyst for the shift was understanding how my mind works, just understanding a couple of small things, opened up my world. Paula was the perfect person to help me make the shift.' Shelley

'The time I spent with Paula was meaningful in many ways - I gained personal awareness and became conscious of how I was being in the world, giving me choice to make changes. I gained confidence and found the relaxation exercises relaxing and uplifting. Paula also informed me of reading material and resources that I can call on to enhance our work together in the future. I found Paula very professional and supportive.' Lorraine

'I am a middle aged woman, I initially consulted Paula for anxiety symptoms during public speaking; my overall goal was to feel more serene and less anxious about the “small things” in my life. Of course, the journey of self discovery is never as simple as this however it was very rewarding. Paula outlined up front how long she thought we would need to work together, this gave me confidence that there was light at the end of the tunnel, we had a goal and I was not going to have years of therapy! There were many “light bulb” moments during my journey with Paula, she is compassionate, warm, giving and non judgmental. For me to understand, how we as humans process thoughts and emotions was very enlightening. This understanding brings me calmness that halts that emotional spiral and frantic thoughts that can use up a lot of energy and usually is unproductive. After my sessions with Paula, which I enjoyed immensely, I achieved more in this time than any other time that I have invested in my mental and emotional health. I am not as hard on myself and do not allow other people in my life to project onto me their issues. I feel I am now more equipped to handle difficult and confronting situations and I can work through and process my reaction and emotions. I feel more in control both physically and mentally. My journey of self discovery and understanding why I emotionally reacted to certain situations was enlightening. Paula gave me the ability to better understand myself and the confidence not to take things personally and the tools to cope with public speaking. Your journey with Paula will be fulfilling, the angst that can come with sorting through our “luggage” is worth it in so many ways. To gain an understanding of who we are and how we can invest in improving our mental and emotional health is priceless. It is said “It is the journey not the destination”, your journey with Paula will be enriching on so many levels. I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to share my journey with Paula.' Clare

'The process of Clinical Hypnotherapy has enabled me to put aside my conscious thoughts and judgements to find my true self, my innocent heart that is full of hope and joy, that had been silenced for such a long time. Paula helped me to better understand what the emotional needs were that I had tried meeting by filling my life with achievements and success that did not, at the end of the day, bring me the peace and joy that I desired.
'I saw that I had never learned how to enjoy my life, only how to achieve. All my life, I had been busy seeking happiness, but not finding it' Dan Millmann, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Paula has shown me how to meet my own emotional needs, using the tools that I already had inside me. My hurt, anger and fury were transformed into clarity, trust and strength – this is true alchemy. There are really no words to describe the fundamental change to my life since working with Paula. I have started to understand myself, my emotional responses and my behaviour, and this growing clarity has started a healing process with myself and loved ones. I see for myself a future of joy and love, in which all my desires can be fulfilled; a life of abundance.' Melissa

'Thanks to Paula’s excellent sessions I was able to work on overcoming a recent fear of flying.  I undertook the trip of a lifetime to Japan and coped calmly and easily with all the flights, long haul and shorter internal ones.  I now feel the world is my oyster again.  Paula’s guidance and strategies were a resounding success and I am grateful for her help.' Kathleen

'I went to Paula in the hope that she could help me overcome my years of insomnia. Having tried numerous pillows, bedtime regimes, lavender etc. nothing worked. Paula’s lovely manner instantly put me at ease. After the first session I was amazed that instead of staring at the ceiling all night I fell asleep for a few hours.  Then much to my amazement I have continued to fall asleep every night. Paula has given me back something that I had despaired of ever having again – sleep!’ Irene

‘I walked into Paula's rooms in the hope she might help me overcome my fear of an up and coming public speech. But she helped me with so much more than that in a very short time. We progressed through a series of very natural and comfortable processes that not only helped me understand more about myself and my actions, but which gave me the confidence to believe that change was a very real possibility. With Paula's help, I sailed through my speech with the confidence I had always aspired toward and now have the tools to extend and maintain that confidence in other aspects of my life. I thank Paula from the bottom of my heart.’ Alicia

'When I walked through Paula’s rooms, I was going through a separation and the loss of two family members. I didn’t know what to expect! But with Paula’s caring nature, she gave me the tools to recognise and cope as I went through the stages of disbelief and shock, to anger and ultimately grief. She provided me with a safe haven and made me see things that I would not normally have been willing to see, accept or understand. I now feel stronger than I ever have. I have confidence in my beliefs, my decisions and myself. Thank you Paula.' Mia

'I just wanted to reach out and give you a huge thank you. You were working with my son just before lockdown and I just wanted to give you an update.  It’s no exaggeration to say you changed his life. Before working with you he could hardly leave the house, couldn’t go to school and couldn’t eat outside the house. He’s now in his second year of a Law Degree having got A’s in all his school exams, he ended up with 9 Highers all at A grade. It’s so nice to see him enjoy life! Thank you so much, you genuinely changed his life.' P.A.

'Dear Paula,
Thanks to your Hypnotherapy sessions, relaxation CD, and self exercises, I was able to control my anxiety related to claustrophobia. This enabled me to have an MRI that was required for assessment of my shoulder pre surgical repair. I am now on a path to repair a long term problem that has impeded my quality of life both physically and mentally. I can not thank you enough. Yours sincerely Christine'

a Discerning Life, Spalding House, 90-92 Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus, DD5 1AJ

Freuchie, Cupar, Fife, KY15

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Couples
Organisations

Key details

The office is up 2 flights of stairs. If other options are needed, please contact Paula to discuss. Online sessions available.

Additional languages

Italian

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online

Supervision for creating a practice your feel good about - feel confident - feel supported - enjoy your practice

View supervision profile

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