About Paula
Paula Lawrence is a licensed clinician in Illinois with 16 years of professional experience. She focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, intimacy-related issues, and anger. Paula aims to make the first step easier for people who feel overwhelmed or unsure about seeking help.
She emphasizes clear, down-to-earth conversations where clients can talk about what matters without judgment. Sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented, with time spent identifying what is most urgent and what small steps might help between meetings.
Background and approach
Paula listens for patterns that contribute to repeated struggles and helps people try new ways of responding. Her background includes working with life transitions and coping with strong emotions. That experience informs how she supports people through midlife shifts, career changes, and periods of uncertainty.
Paula also addresses relationship and communication problems that affect daily life and well-being. People benefit from her straightforward style when facing anger, addictive behaviors, obsessive or compulsive patterns, or difficulty finding purpose. She brings a focus on practical strategies alongside attention to attachment and control issues that can underlie symptoms.
Sessions typically combine conversation with exercises to practice between meetings. Paula works in English and practices as an Illinois LCPC, bringing both years of experience and a calm, encouraging manner. If you decide to begin, she helps you set clear goals and small, doable steps toward change.
Evidence-based techniques and online care
Paula uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that emphasize practical change and emotional understanding. One helpful approach focuses on behavior and routine changes that reduce anxiety and compulsive habits by building small, repeatable actions. This kind of work is useful for obsessive-compulsive patterns, addictions, and day-to-day anxiety management.Another common emphasis is on emotion regulation and communication skills. That approach helps people notice strong reactions, label sensations, and choose different responses when dealing with anger, intimacy issues, or relationship stress. It often involves short exercises to practice between sessions so new habits can form.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Paula will collaborate with each person to identify goals, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. The process is practical and flexible, with regular check-ins about progress and next steps.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit busy lives. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat or text works for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, family, and travel commitments.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
Also listed
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Domestic violence
- Forgiveness
- Impulsivity
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Sex addiction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Experience
- 16 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English