Victoria Hookway , BACP

Victoria Hookway is a BACP counsellor who helps people facing big life changes and ongoing struggles. She works with individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, parenting challenges, ADHD and relationship and family concerns. Her manner is down to earth and practical, and she aims to make the first steps feel less daunting.

Her approach is person-centred, which means the client leads the work and brings what matters most to each session. Victoria listens closely and follows the pace people set. If someone wants strategies and techniques, she will build those together; if they need space to talk through emotions, she will make room for that too.

Victoria combines conversational, practical help with space to process feelings. She has five years of experience in private practice, and also volunteers with a local mental health charity. She works therapeutically within a school community and supports children and their families through difficult periods.

Clients can expect sessions that focus on everyday life improvements, such as sleeping, anger, self-esteem, grief and coping with change. Victoria also offers support around attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, blended family concerns, body image, caregiver stress and communication problems.

Victoria has published a guided journal, 365: A Year of Self-Discovery, to help people reflect between sessions. She works with international clients and delivers sessions in English by video, phone, live chat or text messaging.

Person-centred approaches and online therapy

Victoria uses person-centred ways of working, which focus on following the client's lead and offering space to talk through feelings. This approach helps when someone needs to be heard, to make sense of difficult experiences, or to reconnect with what matters in life.

She also offers practical strategy work alongside talking therapy when it is useful. These techniques might include building coping steps for anxiety, simple routines to support sleep, or problem-solving methods for parenting and relationship concerns. Each method is chosen together so it fits the person's goals and preferences.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Victoria will discuss options with each person, checking what feels helpful and adjusting the plan as therapy progresses. The aim is to work at a comfortable pace and to shape sessions around the client's needs.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for full conversations and visual connection. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quicker check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging suit shorter updates, reflective writing between sessions, or when someone prefers not to be on camera. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family and travel.