- Grief and bereavement
- Stress and anxiety
- Client-centred care
About Virginia
Virginia Bowley is a counsellor with 24 years of experience. She trained as a nurse and then spent 25 years working as a rehabilitation case manager for people with catastrophic injuries. She has worked in private practice, at a further education college and with Cruse bereavement care for six years. She is an Accredited Counsellor with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).
Her background means she often supports people dealing with major losses and life changes. She helps with grief, bereavement and hospice concerns, along with stress, anxiety and depression. She also addresses relationship strain, communication issues, and challenges around adoption, foster care and caregiving.
Virginia uses client-centred work to make space for each person's story. That approach focuses on listening, understanding and following the pace a person prefers. She also makes practical use of cognitive behavioural therapy, helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of coping.
She has experience supporting people facing trauma, abuse and addiction, and helps with anger, low self-esteem and career questions. Virginia also works with issues linked to ageing, chronic illness, intellectual disability and autism, and with people coping after separation or loss.
Sessions are informed by ongoing monthly supervision and by the BACP code of ethics. Outside work she enjoys swimming, walking, cycling and reading, interests she sometimes draws on to help people find steady routines and gentle self-care.
How her approaches translate to online counselling
Client-Centred Therapy puts the person's experience at the centre. The counsellor listens without judgement, follows the person's pace and helps them find their own solutions. This is useful for grief, relationship stress and major life changes.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing different ways of behaving. It often includes practical exercises and short-term tasks that can be worked on between sessions to ease anxiety or low mood.
Working out the right approach is a collaborative process. The counsellor will talk with the person about their goals and preferences, and together they will choose methods that feel most helpful. This may mean mixing client-centred listening with CBT-style tasks when that suits the situation.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so it is best to confirm current options before booking. Many people find online work helps fit counselling into busy lives, such as fitting a shorter check-in during a lunch break or avoiding travel on a difficult day. Online sessions can also make it easier to access support from another part of the country or overseas. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists will discuss what will work best for each person before sessions begin.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Credentials
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She supports people dealing with grief, bereavement and hospice matters, plus stress, anxiety and depression. Other areas include relationships, addiction, trauma and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her work is mainly client-centred, offering attentive listening and pacing things to each person. She also uses cognitive behavioural techniques to help change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
How much experience does she have?
She has 24 years of counselling experience and a long background as a nurse and rehabilitation case manager supporting people with major injuries and losses.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an Accredited Counsellor with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and works in the United Kingdom.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
She accepts international clients, allowing people in other countries to arrange sessions when suitable.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What should someone do to begin?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.