- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship help
- Trauma and recovery
About Joanna
Joanna Ridgeway offers a straightforward, supportive approach for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood or relationship strain. She greets each person with calm attention and encourages honest talk about what matters. Her style aims to make the first step feel manageable rather than daunting.
Joanna is an ACA counsellor with 14 years of professional experience in Australia. She helps people work through trauma and abuse, boosts self-esteem and confidence, and supports those coping with depression. She also addresses a wide range of related concerns such as abandonment, body image, chronic illness, and caregiver stress.
Sessions focus on clear, practical conversation. Joanna combines client-centred listening with approaches that look at how thoughts and feelings connect to behaviour. She will help clients notice patterns, try small changes, and practise new ways of relating to themselves and others.
For relationship or attachment concerns she draws on emotionally-focused and Gottman-informed ideas to improve communication and connection. For anxious or low mood states she uses cognitive tools to reframe unhelpful thoughts and build manageable coping steps.
Joanna works in a calm, non-judgemental way and encourages people to set realistic goals for change. She meets clients where they are and adapts sessions to what each person needs. Taking that first step is often the hardest part, and Joanna aims to make it easier to begin.
Before booking, readers should confirm current session options and scheduling details.
How Joanna's approaches translate to online therapy
Attachment-based work focuses on how early and current relationships shape feelings and reactions; it helps when connection, trust or closeness is causing distress. Client-centred therapy prioritises listening and understanding your experience, giving space to be heard and to make decisions at your own pace. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches practical ways to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Joanna explores your goals, preferences and what has or hasn't worked before, then suggests methods to try together. She adjusts techniques as you go so the work stays relevant and achievable.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, because the profile does not list them. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. It can also suit people who prefer to speak from a calm space or who need to schedule sessions around work or caregiving. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt conversation, exercises and homework tasks to work well across different formats, helping you practice change between meetings.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Joanna commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, self-esteem problems and depression, plus related concerns such as caregiver stress and body image.
What is Joanna's general therapy style?
Her style is client-centred and collaborative, with practical conversation, reflective listening and steps you can try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
Joanna has 14 years of professional experience working with people on the issues listed in her profile.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is credentialed with ACA and practices in Australia.
Which languages are supported and can international clients book?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session formats before booking, as the profile does not specify which formats are offered.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions are offered through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Joanna?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.