Virginia Bowley, BACP

Virginia Bowley is a counsellor with more than two decades of experience. She trained as a nurse and later worked for 25 years as a rehabilitation case manager supporting people with catastrophic injuries. She is accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, BACP.

Virginia has worked in a range of settings since 2001. Her background includes six years with Cruse bereavement care, independent practice and work at a further education college. She offers practical, down-to-earth conversations about loss, grief and life changes.

In sessions she keeps the focus on what feels important right now. She uses a client-centred approach to follow the person’s lead and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to look at patterns of thinking and behaviour. Together she and the client set realistic goals and small steps to change day-to-day difficulties.

Her experience includes supporting people with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, depression, addiction and trauma. She also works with issues such as adoption and foster care, caring responsibilities, chronic illness and ageing concerns. She aims to make sessions understandable and manageable.

Virginia continues monthly supervision and follows the BACP code of ethics. Outside work she enjoys swimming, walking, cycling and reading, and brings a calm, steady presence to her counselling.

How her approaches translate to online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy means the counsellor listens carefully and follows what the person says matters most. This approach helps people who need a steady, empathetic listener while they talk through grief, relationship worries or life changes.

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, looks at how thoughts and behaviours interact. It involves practical tools and small exercises to change unhelpful thinking patterns linked to anxiety, low mood or stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss goals and preferences and together decide which methods to use. This is a collaborative process and can change as work progresses.

The biography does not specify which online session types are offered. Please confirm current session options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit counselling around daily life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can tailor sessions to suit a person’s routine and goals.