Vivien Ridgway, AASW - Therapist in Australia

Attachment-based work
CBT techniques
Mindfulness skills

About Vivien

Vivien Ridgway is an AASW social worker with 36 years of professional experience. She works with adults on common pressures of life such as parenting, gender identity, relationships, trauma and leadership coaching. Vivien uses direct conversation and practical planning to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression and changes in life circumstances.

Clients can expect straightforward sessions that focus on what matters now. Vivien draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns and on cognitive approaches to change unhelpful thinking. She also uses mindfulness and skills from dialectical behaviour therapy for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

Her practice includes support for people dealing with grief, addictions, body image and eating concerns, and challenges such as ADHD, bipolar mood concerns and compassion fatigue. Vivien also helps with career decisions, intimacy-related worries and coping after separation or loss. She is comfortable addressing complex histories including trauma and abuse.

Sessions aim to combine practical tools with space to talk things through. Vivien works with clients on communication problems, commitment worries, caregiver stress and blended family adjustments. She also supports people managing the aftermath of natural or human-caused disasters.

People seeking to start can expect a clear first step: a short questionnaire and then scheduling a first meeting. Vivien practises in Australia and runs sessions in English. For international arrangements, please confirm current options before booking.

How her approaches are used in online sessions

Vivien combines a few clear methods in her work. Attachment-based therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people change unhelpful ways of relating. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviours to reduce anxiety and low mood. Mindfulness therapy introduces simple attention and breathing practices to manage stress and increase present-moment awareness.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Vivien will discuss goals and preferences and then suggest techniques that fit those aims. This is a collaborative process and plans can be adjusted as progress or new needs emerge.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around study, work and other commitments. They also allow shorter check-ins or sessions that do not require video, which can help when bandwidth or quiet time is limited. Appropriately qualified therapists can use these formats to keep therapy practical and focused on everyday problems.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety LGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsGrief Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexuality Social anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issues Workplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy

Experience

36+ years

Listed in

Australia

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

Vivien works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues among many other concerns listed on her profile.

What is her therapeutic style?

She uses client-centred conversation alongside attachment-based, cognitive and mindfulness approaches to create practical plans and skills.

How much experience does she have?

Vivien has 36 years of professional work experience as a social worker.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is an AASW social worker based in Australia.

Does she work in languages other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients access her services?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are sessions structured and what is the cost?

Session cost varies with location and uses a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.