Victoria Porteous , NCPS

Victoria Porteous is a counsellor who blends conversational warmth with practical tools. She draws on personal experience of grief and recovery to keep sessions grounded and relatable. Victoria aims to make therapy feel natural rather than clinical, and she often uses humour when it is helpful.

Victoria keeps sessions personable and direct. She will listen closely, ask clear questions, and sometimes gently challenge unhelpful thoughts to open new perspectives. Her style is flexible so sessions can feel like a real conversation rather than a rigid checklist.

She has worked with complex trauma survivors and ran counselling services for a Government-backed trauma charity during the COVID period. Victoria also collaborates with charities that receive referrals from doctors or government agencies, and she has supported people connected to business, sport and public service sectors.

Victoria practises several therapeutic approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. She uses these methods to help people manage anxiety, addiction, low self-esteem, relationship and family difficulties, grief and life changes.

Her background includes private practice counselling and coaching, plus earlier work as a private investigator, which she says strengthened her listening and observational skills. Victoria is also qualified as a Menopause Healthcare Professional and holds the NCPS credential.

People describe her work as tailored and honest. She encourages those who want to make positive changes to try a thoughtful, sometimes challenging process of self-discovery and acceptance.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings and then focus on actions that match their values. It can support someone coping with anxiety, life transitions or low motivation by building acceptance and purposeful action. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns. It helps people understand connection, boundaries and intimacy issues and is useful for relationship and family concerns.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through goals, preferences and how symptoms show up, then suggest methods that fit. Together they will try different techniques and adjust the plan as needed so the work feels practical and relevant to everyday life.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to make counselling accessible. Video works well when non-verbal cues matter, while phone calls can suit lower bandwidth or a shorter check-in. Live chat and messaging let people reflect between messages and fit support into busy days. These options aim to make it simpler to attend sessions around work, family and other commitments.