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Therapist profile

Joanna Ridgeway

Therapist · Australia

Compassionate, practical support for stressed lives

Continue with Joanna

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

Joanna Ridgeway
Credentials
ACA
Registration
ACA, Australia · 15551
Experience
14 years
Languages
English
Location
Australia
  • Warm conversational style
  • Focus on relationships
  • Practical coping skills

About Joanna

Joanna Ridgeway is an ACA counsellor who helps people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or low mood. She works with those struggling in relationships, people coping with past trauma or abuse, and those wanting to build self-esteem and confidence. Her approach aims to make the first step easier for anyone who feels stuck or unsure about asking for help.

Joanna keeps sessions straightforward and down-to-earth. She creates a calm space where clients can talk about thoughts and feelings without judgement. Conversations focus on what matters to the client and on small, practical changes that can make day-to-day life easier.

Her work draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationships shape current patterns. She also uses client-centred methods that follow the person’s lead, and cognitive behavioural tools to spot unhelpful thinking and try different behaviours. This mix helps people who are dealing with codependency, communication problems, commitment worries and blended family concerns.

With 14 years of professional experience, Joanna has supported people through grief, long-term illness, caregiving strain and major life transitions. She pays attention to the whole situation - including physical health and practical stresses - when planning sessions.

People who come to Joanna often want clear, compassionate support and help building stronger coping skills. She encourages steady progress and practical steps that fit into everyday life.

How Joanna's approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-based work focuses on how early bonds shape current relationships. Online sessions using this approach help people notice patterns in closeness, trust and conflict, and practise different ways of connecting in everyday life.

Client-centred therapy places the person at the heart of the conversation. In an online setting this means the therapist follows the client's priorities, listens attentively and helps the person find their own solutions and next steps.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions. Online CBT often uses short exercises and homework to test new ways of thinking and behaving between sessions, which can be helpful for anxiety, low mood and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Joanna will discuss goals and preferences with each person and decide together which methods suit them best. That collaborative process can include trying a few different techniques to see what helps most.

The original profile did not list specific online formats, so confirm available session types before booking. Online appointments can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow more flexible scheduling. They also allow practical, real-world homework to be reviewed during follow-up conversations.

Areas of expertise

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Credentials

Listed on profile

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Joanna commonly address?

She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties, and works with those affected by trauma, abuse and self-esteem problems.

What is Joanna's therapeutic style?

Her style is calm and down-to-earth, using client-centred listening alongside tools to change unhelpful thinking and relationship patterns.

How much experience does she have?

Joanna has 14 years of professional experience working with adults on emotional and relationship concerns.

What credentials and location apply?

She is an ACA counsellor practising in Australia.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are offered?

The original biography did not specify session formats, so please confirm current session options with the service before booking.

How are costs handled?

Session cost varies with location and therapist availability and is managed through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with Joanna?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

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