Virginia Bowley , BACP

Virginia Bowley is a seasoned counsellor who has worked with individuals, children, families and couples since 2001. Her experience spans roles in bereavement support, private practice and further education, including six years with Cruse Bereavement Care and work at a college for further education. She is an Accredited Counsellor with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) - a professional body that recognises practitioners who meet established standards of training and practice - and she has completed training in online counselling.

Originally trained as a nurse, Virginia spent 25 years as a rehabilitation case manager supporting people who had sustained catastrophic injuries, helping them come to terms with significant and multiple losses. That clinical background informs her work with grief, trauma, loss, relationship issues and other life changes. She maintains monthly supervision and follows the BACP code of ethics as part of her ongoing professional practice.

Outside of her clinical work she enjoys swimming, walking, cycling and reading, activities that reflect a balanced and resilient approach to life and to the therapeutic work she offers.

Client-centered and CBT approaches in online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client’s perspective, valuing empathy, active listening and a non-directive stance that helps people explore their feelings and make their own choices. This approach is useful for issues such as grief, relationship difficulties, self-esteem and coping with major life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour and then working collaboratively to develop practical strategies for change. CBT can be effective for anxiety, depression and stress-related problems where mood and daily functioning are affected.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Virginia works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals and preferences, adapting techniques from different approaches when appropriate to create a personalised plan.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - clients can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, to access care from different locations and to maintain continuity when mobility or geographic distance is a factor. As a practitioner who has completed training in online counselling, she offers these options to help clients access consistent, professional support from licensed professionals and experienced therapists.