Joanna Ridgeway, ACA
14 years in practice
Joanna Ridgeway is an ACA counsellor with 14 years of experience who helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and low self-esteem.
License and registration
- ACA
- 15551 · expires January 2027
- Years in practice
- 14
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the registration with the body that granted it.
About Joanna
Joanna Ridgeway is an ACA counsellor with 14 years of experience who helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and low self-esteem. She aims to make starting therapy feel less daunting by offering a calm, non-judgemental space to talk. Joanna uses clear, practical steps alongside listening and reflection to help people move forward.
Joanna blends systemic thinking with attachment-based and client-centred ways of working. That means she looks at how relationships and life patterns affect feelings and behaviour, and she centres each person’s experience in the room.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on understanding what keeps problems going and on small, realistic changes that can reduce distress. She also uses elements of cognitive behavioural therapy and emotionally-focused therapy when these suit a person’s goals. Those methods help with spotting unhelpful thoughts, building emotional awareness, and improving communication.
Joanna adapts tools to match each person’s situation rather than applying a single method to everyone. Her practice is straightforward and practical. People can expect to be listened to, to try short exercises in sessions, and to agree on next steps together.
Joanna supports people as they work on clearer boundaries, better coping skills, or repairing connection with others. Joanna works with a wide range of concerns including depression, chronic stress, grief, caregiving strain and life transitions. Sessions are held online by video, phone, live chat or text messaging to suit people’s schedules and needs.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Joanna lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Joanna names
- Systemic Therapy
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How Joanna adapts therapy online and by approach
Systemic thinking looks at how relationships and daily routines shape feelings and behaviour. Online sessions use that lens to map patterns in work, family life or friendship networks and to test small changes that can shift those patterns.Attachment-based work focuses on how early and current relationships affect safety, trust and closeness. In sessions Joanna helps people notice emotional responses and practise new ways of connecting or setting boundaries when old patterns show up.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Joanna will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then suggest methods that fit. That collaboration means techniques can be adjusted over time as needs change.
Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy lives. Video calls let people meet face-to-face without travel, phone sessions use less bandwidth when that matters, and live chat or text messaging can suit quick check-ins or when someone prefers writing. These formats make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, appointments and caregiving.
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Questions people ask
What kinds of problems does Joanna help with?
Joanna supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. She also works with concerns such as chronic illness, caregiving stress, body image and communication problems.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach combines listening with practical exercises. She uses systemic and attachment-based ideas alongside client-centred conversations to help people identify patterns and try small changes.
What experience does Joanna have?
Joanna has 14 years of professional experience working with a broad range of emotional and relationship concerns. She emphasises gentle, steady support while people make changes.
What are Joanna's credentials and where is she based?
She is an ACA counsellor based in Australia. Location details are used to match people with appropriate session formats and times.
Can I work with her if I live outside Australia?
Sessions are offered in English and Joanna does not accept international clients at this time. She works with people located in Australia.
What formats are available for sessions?
Joanna offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These options help fit therapy around work, caregiving or other commitments.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Joanna?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability. The matching process helps pair people to a therapist who fits their needs.
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