Vanessa Thomas , AASW

Vanessa Thomas is an AASW social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and life changes. She works with clients struggling with depression, compassion fatigue, workplace issues and women's issues. Vanessa also supports people facing trauma, sleeping difficulties, parenting strain and relationship concerns.

Vanessa uses a person-centred and trauma-informed style. Sessions focus on the person's values, strengths and small practical steps. She asks about what matters to the client and tailors techniques to suit each person's needs.

Her practice draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness and cognitive approaches. Vanessa also uses emotion-focused ideas to address relationship patterns and intense feelings. Work in sessions might include values clarification, grounding skills and noticing unhelpful thinking.

Vanessa has three years' experience working with people who have complex mental health needs and survivors of trauma. She aims to keep language clear and direct so people can use what they learn between sessions. The goal is steady change rather than quick fixes.

Sessions are practical and collaborative. Clients can expect to set achievable goals and try techniques in ways that fit their daily life. Vanessa encourages pacing, curiosity and self-compassion as people work through difficult problems.

Online approaches that suit busy lives and big feelings

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take small actions towards them, even when emotions are hard. It is useful for anxiety, depression and for people who want more direction in life. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and offers practical exercises to reduce worry and improve mood. It often helps with anxiety, sleep problems and low mood. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at how feelings shape important relationships and can help people notice and change patterns that cause distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Vanessa will discuss options and try methods that fit the client's goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process where techniques are adjusted based on progress and what works in everyday life.

Online therapy gives flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when it helps, phone sessions work well if bandwidth is limited, live chat and text messaging suit quick check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving or other commitments while still using evidence-informed approaches.