Victoria Porteous , NCPS

Victoria Porteous draws on more than a decade of professional experience and her own journey through therapy to support people facing difficult life challenges. She first engaged with therapy at 22 after the death of her mother, a period marked by intense anger, isolation and self-defeating behaviours that were compounded by an addictive personality. That experience shaped her belief in the transformative potential of therapy and in the importance of finding a therapist with whom one genuinely connects.

Her practice aims to be personable and conversational, often using warmth and measured humour to help people feel at ease. Victoria avoids overly clinical routines and prefers to challenge thoughts respectfully, helping clients explore alternative perspectives without making sessions feel formal or rigid. During the COVID period she partnered with a government-backed trauma charity to run their counselling services for 18 months, working primarily with complex trauma survivors. She also works with people referred through charities, doctors and government agencies.

Victoria has received testimonials from business leaders and athletes, including a former executive of Glasgow City Council, a leading criminal defence and human rights lawyer in Scotland, and a Paralympian gold medallist and Nike athlete. She is a regular contributor on national radio, speaking on mental health, social equality and current affairs, and her LinkedIn page offers additional information about her background. In private practice she provides onsite counselling and coaching in a non-judgemental space and tailors her approach to each individual.

Her clinical work addresses a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, motivation, relationship and family conflicts, addictive behaviours related to porn and social media, and questions of purpose and direction. She has a particular focus on estranged family relationships, blended families and step-parenting, and she is also qualified as a Menopause Healthcare Professional. Victoria holds the NCPS credential, a counselling qualification, and her average review ratings have consistently been 4.9 or 5 out of 5. Previously trained as a private investigator, she brings careful listening, attention to non-verbal cues and skilled questioning to her therapeutic work. Victoria welcomes clients who are ready to make positive changes and to engage in the sometimes challenging process of self-discovery and acceptance.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice and make space for difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on values-based action. It is useful for anxiety, stress, low motivation and patterns that keep people stuck. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns in close connections; it can be helpful for people dealing with trust, intimacy, abandonment or relationship conflict. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) works with emotional responses in relationships to rebuild connection and safety, making it a strong option for couples and those facing attachment or intimacy-related issues.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy itself. Victoria collaborates with each person to explore which methods best match their needs, goals and preferences, and may integrate techniques from different models so treatment feels tailored rather than one-size-fits-all.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging - which helps people fit support around work, family and other commitments. For those who find attending in person difficult, remote options increase accessibility while still allowing meaningful, focused work with licensed professionals and therapists.