Professional Membership, Qualifications & Accountability to Practice

Qualifications & Relevant Training

Paula Anne Thwaite's work draws on nearly thirty years of professional experience in counselling, psychotherapy-informed practice, reflective writing, therapeutic metaphor, publishing, spiritual accompaniment, group facilitation, ethical communication, and person-centred reflective process.

Relevant qualifications, training and professional experience include:

MA Creative Writing, Teesside University
Doctorate of Ministry studies begun in 2025, St Mary's University, Twickenham
Counselling and psychotherapy training and experience, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Clinical hypnotherapy and NLP training, used here only as part of Paula's wider understanding of communication structure, language patterns, non-verbal communication, listening, rapport, and reflective process, Manchester
Spiritual Direction / spiritual accompaniment training, Lincoln
Lay ministry training, Lincoln
Writing mentoring, author and writer support, and reflective creative development
Supporting writers from early idea stage through to completed manuscripts, publication planning, and book launch preparation
Helping authors connect with appropriate professional support where needed, including editing, design, publishing, marketing, or promotional services
Experience of arranging book signing tours, author events, promotional activities, and community-based literary connections
Group facilitation, mediation, reflective communication, and bringing people together in supportive, purposeful spaces, including work in Leeds, Wakefield, Lincoln, Scarborough and online
Writing, publishing, mentoring, and facilitation experience across individual, group, professional, and community settings
Ongoing CPD/PD, supervision, safeguarding, and ethical reflection

Three times published author, Paula taught herself the publishing process from start to finish, including engaging professional editors, proof-readers and beta-readers where appropriate. Paula has a wealth of knowledge within the independent publishing arena and is available on a consulting and mentoring basis.

Paula also has experience of writing for and submitting to magazines, journals and newspapers, with several articles and written pieces published herself. These have included: Yours Magazine, the ileostomy Association Magazine, Amcare Pharmaceutical Supplier, 'Yours Magazine'; Skegness Standard, Louth Leader, Lincolnshire Echo, Writers' Magazine, Lincolnshire Poacher Magazine, and Lincolnshire Life Magazine.

Paula also has past experience of providing papers, talks and workshops for the charities and the corporate sector, including hospitals in Wakefield and Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Please note: Busy Corner Books do not offer NLP, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, counselling, diagnosis, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, or crisis support. Paula's previous training and professional experience are listed to show the breadth of her background, accountability, and continuing development. She has since integrated her work and grown through experience, wisdom and personal/professional development, making her Christian faith central to the theme of her motivation and outcome. The services offered through Busy Corner Books, Writing Well and ARCLIGHT™ are educational, reflective, creative, developmental, mentoring-based, and spiritually attentive where appropriate.

Professional Memberships

To be added shortly. Currently in progress.
June 2026

Accountability & Supervision

Paula Anne Thwaite attends regular professional and external supervision with an appropriately accountable and qualified supervisor. Her supervisor is a qualified professional with teaching and research experience within the psychological field.

Supervision is in place to help maintain reflective, ethical and accountable practice, support ongoing continuing professional and personal development, and encourage a healthy work/life balance. This helps clients, customers and course participants receive an attentive, ethical and well-considered experience.

A professional supervisor's role may also include consultation around potential ethical issues, safeguarding concerns, boundaries, or professional practice matters.

Client names, addresses and identifying details are not discussed in supervision unless serious safeguarding or legal action is required. In such circumstances, every effort is made to discuss the matter with the person concerned before appropriate parties are involved, such as the police, social services, or another relevant safeguarding body, unless doing so would increase risk.

Confidentiality and ethical conduct remain central to Paula's work with her supervisor. If you would like further information, please feel free to ask any questions.

Insurance & Disclosure Check

Paula Anne Thwaite has ongoing professional liability insurance and an up-to-date disclosure check, currently being updated again.
June 2026

Paula's Personal Attributes

Paula brings the following personal qualities to her work:

Warmth, compassion, and genuine care for others
Deep listening and careful attention to what is being communicated beneath the surface
A calm, gentle, and encouraging presence
Strong intuition supported by professional experience and ethical reflection
Patience with each person's individual pace and process
Respect for personal/professional boundaries, consent, and emotional safety
An ability to help people feel seen, heard, and acknowledged
Creativity, imagination, and metaphorical thinking
A gift for helping people discover confidence in their own voice
Sensitivity to trauma, neurodiversity, vulnerability, and life transitions
A natural ability to bring people together in meaningful and supportive ways
Strong group facilitation skills, including mediation, reflective communication, and careful holding of group dynamics
Courage, resilience, and lived understanding of rebuilding after change
Humility, integrity, and a commitment to ongoing learning
Faith-shaped wisdom, while remaining respectful of people from different beliefs and backgrounds
A person-honouring approach rooted in dignity, authenticity, and hope