Vivien Ridgway

Vivien Ridgway is an AASW social worker with 36 years of clinical experience helping people navigate big life challenges. She focuses on building practical, down-to-earth plans with each person. Vivien treats people with respect, sensitivity and compassion as they work towards more satisfying lives.

Her practice covers a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief and depression. She also supports people dealing with parenting stress, gender and LGBT matters, addictions, ADHD and career-related worries. Vivien works with specific difficulties like body image, abandonment and attachment issues as well.

Vivien prefers a collaborative style. She listens first and tailors the conversation to what matters most to the person in front of her. Sessions often focus on concrete strategies, clearer communication and small changes that make daily life easier.

Her approach draws on attachment-based ideas, client-centred listening, cognitive behavioural techniques, dialectical behaviour skills and mindfulness practice. That mix helps with emotional regulation, relationship problems and coping after trauma.

People who do best with Vivien tend to want practical steps as well as space to explore feelings. She also offers coaching for leadership and career transitions alongside therapeutic work. To begin, people follow the site's matching process and then schedule sessions according to her availability.

How Vivien’s approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-based work focuses on patterns in relationships and how early bonds shape current reactions. Online sessions can help people notice attachment responses and practise different ways of connecting with others.

Client-centred therapy emphasises being heard and respected. In an online setting this means the counsellor reflects what is said, follows the person's lead and helps them find their own solutions for stress, grief or relationship problems.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) breaks worries and behaviours into manageable parts and tests new ways of acting. Practically, CBT in remote sessions can include homework, thought records and rehearsing new skills between meetings to support changes in mood and behaviour.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and together choose methods that suit their situation and pace. That decision is collaborative and can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports continuing therapy during relocations or life transitions when face-to-face sessions are harder to arrange.