Victoria Porteous , NCPS

Victoria Porteous brings personal experience and professional training to her work, combining lessons learned from her own therapy with more than a decade of clinical practice. She first entered therapy at 22 after her mother died and later addressed patterns of anger, isolation and self-defeating behaviour that were compounded by an addictive tendency. That early experience shaped her belief in the importance of a strong therapeutic connection and the potential for change over time.

Her style is intentionally conversational and personable, often using lightness and humour to help people relax while avoiding reductive rating questions. She offers gentle, respectful challenge when it helps to open new perspectives and supports clients through complex emotional material rather than relying on formulaic exercises. Victoria has run counselling services for a Government-backed trauma charity for 18 months during COVID, working primarily with complex trauma survivors, and she also provides therapy through charity referral pathways from doctors and government agencies.

Victoria holds NCPS, a recognised professional counselling credential, and she is also qualified as a Menopause Healthcare Professional. Her private practice combines counselling and coaching onsite, and she aims to provide a non-judgemental space tailored to each individual’s needs. Her work covers a wide range of concerns including stress and anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, addictions, relationship and family conflicts, estrangement, blended family and step-parenting issues, grief, intimacy-related difficulties and career or life transitions.

She has received testimonials from business leaders and athletes, including the previous Executive of Glasgow City Council, a leading Criminal Defence and Human Rights Lawyer in Scotland, and a Paralympian gold medalist and Nike athlete, and she contributes regularly to national radio on mental health, social equality and current affairs. With an average review score reported as 4.9 or 5 out of 5, Victoria offers therapy tailored to the individual and draws on earlier work as a private investigator to inform careful listening, attention to non-verbal cues and thoughtful questioning. She invites people who are ready to begin a sometimes challenging but empowering journey of self-discovery to book sessions with her.

Therapeutic approaches for online relationship and trauma work

Victoria uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify their values and learn practical ways to act in line with what matters to them. ACT supports people facing anxiety, difficult emotions or patterns that hold them back by combining mindfulness and committed action to build a more meaningful life.

She also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early relational patterns shape current relationships and emotional responses. This approach is useful for clients working with attachment issues, estrangement, intimacy difficulties or complex family dynamics.

Victoria’s practice is informed by client-centred principles that prioritise empathy, listening and collaboration, allowing sessions to be shaped around each person’s needs rather than a rigid protocol. Deciding on the best approach is a shared process - she works with clients to test what fits their goals, preferences and life circumstances and adapts methods as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home or work, and fit therapy into busy lives while still working with licensed professionals and therapists committed to effective, personalised treatment.