Victoria Porteous , NCPS

Victoria Porteous combines personal experience and professional training to support people navigating difficult life moments. She first entered therapy at 22 after her mother died, a time marked by anger, isolation and self-defeating behaviours influenced by an addictive personality. That early experience shaped her belief in the importance of a strong therapeutic connection and continues to inform the warm, conversational way she works with clients.

Her sessions are personable and often include appropriate humour, with an emphasis on genuine dialogue rather than formulaic measures of mood. Victoria will at times respectfully challenge a person's thinking to help them see alternative perspectives. During Co-Vid she partnered with a government-backed trauma charity to run their counselling services for 18 months, working mainly with complex trauma survivors, and she also accepts referrals from charities and from doctors or government agencies.

In private practice she provides onsite counselling and coaching and is qualified as a Menopause Healthcare Professional. She works with a wide range of concerns including stress and anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem and confidence, relationship and family conflicts, addictions, motivation and lack of purpose, with particular attention to estranged family relationships, blended families and step-parenting. Her work has been recognised by testimonials from business leaders, legal professionals and elite athletes, and she contributes regularly to national radio on topics such as mental health and social equality.

Victoria holds the NCPS credential, a recognised counselling qualification, and her average session reviews have been 4.9 or 5 out of 5. Drawing on earlier experience as a private investigator, she uses strong listening skills and careful questioning to build a clear picture of each person's situation and tailors therapy to the individual. She aims to be the kind of therapist she needed during hard times and welcomes people prepared to engage in honest, sometimes challenging work to book sessions with her.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Victoria Porteous uses evidence-informed approaches adapted to an online setting to help people work through difficult patterns and painful experiences. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and developing psychological flexibility - it helps when avoidance or rigid thinking limits what a person wants from life. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current bonds and can be useful for issues with intimacy, estrangement and family dynamics. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a non-judgemental, collaborative relationship where the therapist offers empathy and support to help clients find their own solutions and build confidence.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Victoria works collaboratively with each person to identify what fits best based on their needs, goals and preferences. She adapts techniques and the pace of work in partnership with the client so the process feels manageable and meaningful.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place via video calls, phone conversations, live chat or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit therapy around work, family or mobility needs. These options allow licensed professionals and therapists to provide consistent, regular care and make it simpler for people to access support from wherever they are located.