How Paula Works

Paula combines talking therapy with creative and experiential methods where these are appropriate and helpful.

Rather than applying one model to every client, she works collaboratively, adapting the therapeutic process to each person’s experiences, needs and preferred ways of working.

Areas of Support

Paula works primarily with adults, offering a confidential and supportive space to explore emotional difficulties, relationships, patterns and life experiences.

As a breast cancer survivor, Paula also brings personal understanding of the emotional impact that significant illness and recovery can have on individuals and families.

Qualifications & Specialist Training

• Master’s Degree in Social Science (Counselling) 2008
• Diploma in Managing Learning Disorders and Child Psychology 2010
• Graduate Diploma in Parent Coaching 2012
• Sandplay and Symbol Work — Expressive Therapies Australia 2011
• Expressive Therapies — Expressive Therapies Australia 2017
• EMDR with Expressive Therapy 2023
• Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapies 2024

Paula is an Expressive Therapies Australia-approved trainer, delivering specialist Certificate programmes in Expressive Therapies and Sandplay & Symbol Work.

Background & Experience

Paula’s professional journey into counselling developed from a longstanding interest in creativity, education and emotional development.

In 2003, she became the founding President of the Waldorf Steiner Education Association in Singapore, supporting creative and play-based early childhood education and helping to run playgroups and kindergarten programmes.

Following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2005, Paula retrained as a counsellor, completing her Master’s Degree in 2008. This experience contributed to her interest in integrating a head-heart-hands approach to therapeutic work — combining cognitive understanding, emotional processing and experiential or creative practice.

From 2009 to 2020, Paula worked as an International School Counsellor in Singapore, providing individual counselling, group interventions and workshops for students, teachers and parents.

She established The Gentle Art of Expressive Therapy in 2016 as a part-time private practice before making it her full-time professional focus in July 2020.

Training & Supervision

Alongside client work, Paula provides professional supervision and specialist training for practitioners working in counselling, psychotherapy, social work, education and other allied professions.

Her teaching focuses particularly on the practical integration of Expressive Therapies, Sandplay and Symbol Work into therapeutic and helping relationships.

Paula is an approved trainer for Expressive Therapies Australia’s Certificate programmes in both Expressive Therapies and Sandplay & Symbol Work.

Professional Memberships

• Registered Member
  Singapore Association for Counselling (R-CMSAC)
• Registered Sand Therapist — Consultant / Trainer
  World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals (WASPT)
• Professional Member
  International Expressive Arts Therapy Association
• Member
  EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)

Ongoing Professional Development

Paula has undertaken extensive professional development across trauma, expressive therapies, clinical supervision, mindfulness, sandplay and related therapeutic approaches.