- Client-centered work
- Mindfulness practice
- Motivational interviewing
About Paula
Paula Leapheart is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Michigan with 16 years of experience in behavioral health. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, and coping with life changes. Her background also includes support for intimacy-related issues, grief, anger, self-esteem, and parenting challenges.
Paula centers her work on the idea that people know their lives best. She uses that perspective to help clients make changes that feel realistic and doable. Sessions focus on clear goals, practical steps, and honest conversation rather than jargon or lengthy theoretical explanations.
Her toolkit draws from client-centered therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused work. That mix supports short-term goals like managing anxiety or substance use, and longer work such as rebuilding trust after trauma or navigating family conflict. She discusses strategies that can be used between appointments to keep progress moving.
Paula has substantial experience with addiction-related concerns and relationship patterns like codependency and commitment fear. She also addresses life transitions common in young adulthood - starting careers, shifting identities, and financial stress - alongside women’s health topics such as postpartum mood changes and pregnancy-related concerns.
Sessions are practical and conversational. Expect straightforward feedback, collaborative goal-setting, and a focus on skills you can try out in everyday life. To begin, clients choose an online therapy option, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a collaborative relationship. In practice this means sessions will prioritize the client’s own goals and perspective, and the therapist will use that understanding to guide conversation and next steps.Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and manage anxiety. It often helps with stress, sleep difficulties, and the intense emotions that follow trauma or major life change.
Motivational interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find their own reasons to change. It is useful for substance use, ambivalence about relationships, and taking steps toward financial or career goals.
Finding the right combination of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped before. Together you will test methods and adjust the plan based on what feels most useful and realistic for everyday life.
The therapist’s biography does not list specific online session formats. Confirm which formats are offered before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, and reduce travel time. They also let people use techniques like mindfulness practice between appointments, which supports steady progress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address for young adults?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family conflict, and life changes common in early adulthood.
What is her style of therapy like?
She uses client-centered, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused approaches. Sessions are practical, conversational, and goal oriented.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience in the behavioral health field and has worked with people dealing with substance use, trauma, and relationship issues.
Where is she based and what credential does she hold?
She is based in Michigan and holds the LPC credential.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are accepted. Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats are not specified in the biography. Confirm current session options when you select a service before scheduling.
How does pricing work for her services?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first appointment?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.