About Paula

Hi, I’m Paula! A few of my favorite things include (but are not limited to): screaming Kendrick Lamar lyrics, breathing in fresh mountain air, and spontaneous trips to Juiceland (moontower fan for life). I also spill food on my shirt daily, occasionally trip over air, experience emotions very intensely, and did not learn how to manage my own neurodivergence until adulthood. I’m a whole human outside of work, which means I’m a whole human while I’m working! I’m hoping that feels refreshing for you and opens the door for you to be a whole human with me too. My utmost priority is to nurture a space for you to be real so you can heal.

Clinical Training and Background

I received my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and I am currently pursuing licensure as a psychologist. During my seven years of training, I have provided therapy and assessments for individuals of all ages in community clinics, foster homes, legal systems, inpatient hospitals, and academic settings. I am well-trained in psychological assessments (ADHD, dyslexia, etc.), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care. People I work with typically express concerns about stress, anger, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma, conflict in relationships, learning difficulties, changes in behavior, or a combination of these. I am also a trained researcher, which means that your therapy and/or assessment will be rooted in both your personal experiences and the latest scientific findings.

Therapeutic Approach

“…OK, but what does therapy actually look like with you though?” 

It’s an important question to ask and have answered! My annoying answer is that “it depends” a lot on what we learn as we get to know each other in the beginning. However, here are some standard things to expect from me: 

• I send “session recaps” after sessions with what we discussed and our next steps.

• I send “thinking of you” messages for life events (birthdays, graduations, tough days). 

• I will fully support (and participate in) bringing coffee to session, dropping a few curse words, getting creative together, and coming up with our own inside jokes. 

• I routinely ask for feedback: How am I doing? How is therapy going? Is there anything you want more or less of in our sessions? What would it be like if we tried this? 

• I haven’t found a statement that shocks or scares me in therapy. If it feels too dark or embarrassing to share, then that’s probably where I’ll want to go when you’re ready.  

“…and what if I just need an assessment?” 

Some people don’t know whether they need therapy, but they would like some answers to their questions. An assessment is an excellent place to start!  

• My process usually consists of 1) an interview where we get information about you and your concerns, 2) a “testing” appointment where we do several interactive tasks, and 3) a discussion session where we review your results and suggestions for next steps. 

• My assessments do not only focus on diagnoses, but they also focus on struggles you experience in your daily life!  

• I provide people with a list of community providers, books, podcasts, and other helpful resources.