Vivien Ridgway, AASW

Vivien Ridgway is an AASW social worker with 36 years of experience. She has spent her career supporting people through parenting challenges, gender identity concerns, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, and leadership coaching. Vivien focuses on meeting each person where they are and building practical ways forward.

She works in a respectful, sensitive and compassionate way. Sessions are tailored to the individual's needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan. Conversations centre on clear goals and steps that fit into everyday life.

Vivien uses a mix of approaches to suit different problems. She often draws on attachment ideas to look at how relationships shape feelings. Cognitive behaviour strategies are used to spot and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns.

Mindfulness and dialectical tools are included when people need help with emotional regulation and staying present. The work is active and collaborative - clients are invited to try small experiments between sessions and review what helps.

Her practice covers a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD and compassion fatigue. Vivien also supports people dealing with life changes, career questions and intimacy-related issues.

She aims to empower people to find more fulfilment and better day-to-day coping. If someone is ready to take a first step, Vivien will help shape a plan and provide steady support along the way.

Approaches that guide online therapy conversations

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current relationships affect feelings and behaviour. It helps when difficulties with trust, closeness or repeated relationship patterns are causing distress. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on a respectful, non-judgemental conversation where the client's priorities guide the work; it suits people who want a safe space to make sense of their choices. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and tests small practical changes that reduce symptoms such as anxiety or low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and review what helps as therapy progresses.

Please confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people work from wherever they are comfortable and use techniques like guided breathing, activity planning and thought records between sessions. Appropriately qualified therapists help tailor the practicalities so therapy can fit into everyday life.