About Paul
Dr Paul O'Neal is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression and relationship strains. He draws on over three decades of experience to listen, reflect and help clients find clearer ways forward. His approachable manner makes it easier to begin difficult conversations about what is causing pain and worry.
Paul practises in Australia and holds credentials with AHPRA and the Australian Association of Social Workers, AASW. He aims to make sessions feel straightforward and practical.
Background and approach
Conversations focus on immediate concerns and small steps that can be tried between sessions. His style blends attachment-based thinking with client-centred care. That means he pays attention to how relationships shape feelings, and he follows each person’s priorities in the room.
He also uses elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and solution-focused techniques to help change patterns and set realistic goals. Paul has worked with people facing family problems, caregiver stress, chronic illness and relationship breakdown. He also supports those dealing with abandonment, avoidance or dependency patterns, and complex mood concerns including bipolar disorder.
He explains ideas in plain language and checks in about what is useful during therapy. Sessions aim to be collaborative and goal-oriented. Paul encourages people to bring examples from daily life so therapy stays relevant.
He understands taking the first step can feel hard and aims to make the process manageable and respectful.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Paul uses attachment-based ideas and cognitive behavioural techniques in straightforward ways. Attachment-based work looks at how past and current relationships affect mood and trust, and can help with grief, relationship strain and caregiver stress. Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behaviour changes to reduce anxiety and low mood.He also works in a client-centred way, which means sessions follow the person's concerns and pace. Finding the right mix of methods is a collaborative process. The therapist will check what feels helpful and adapt tools to match the client's goals and preferences rather than applying a fixed plan.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful when visual cues help the conversation. Phone sessions can fit around work breaks or require less bandwidth. Live chat or text messaging suit shorter check-ins or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into everyday life.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 34 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English
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