Vivienne Botting

I currently have slots on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday including a few evening sessions. 

My name is Viv and I am a highly qualified and experienced BACP registered counsellor with decades of experience working with young people and adults. My safe, confidential and easily accessible office space is based near Sandwich in Kent and I offer help with a broad range of issues including bereavement, depression, anxiety, relationships and low self-esteem. I work face-to-face, indoors and out, as well as online, with adults and young people (14+). I am a fully trained Walk and Talk therapist. 

I am an integrative counsellor basing my practice primarily around a person-centred approach and tailoring therapy to your individual needs. I am able to draw on different models of counselling and a range of therapeutic methods and techniques including Walk and Talk, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis and many creative approaches.

I work with all individuals aged 14 plus and offer short and long-term therapy in weekly 50-minute sessions. 

I work with a wide range of issues including:

• Anger
• Abuse
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Childhood Issues
• Depression
• Disability
• Divorce
• Domestic abuse
• Existential fears
• Family issues
• Health
• Loneliness
• Loss
• Low Confidence
• Low Self-esteem
• Neurodivergence
• Self-harm
• Trauma
• Relationships
• Separation
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety/shyness
• Stress
• Work issues

I have additional training in mentoring, coaching, autism, pastoral care and safeguarding. As a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP), I work to their code of practice and ethical framework. I am fully insured, registered with the ICO and hold a current DBS.

Starting therapy can often seem like a very daunting experience. Choosing a suitable counsellor is so much easier once you realise that the most important factor in determining successful client outcome is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. In other words, therapy will work if you find a good listener you feel comfortable with and connected to; someone who is genuine, respectful, encouraging, understanding and confidential.

Working from a person-centred, humanistic philosophy, I believe that we are all born inherently good and have an innate desire to be the best we can be and naturally strive to grow in a positive direction. Unfortunately, life's experiences and circumstances can sometimes hinder our ability to grow in this way and then have a negative impact on how we feel, think and behave. I offer clients empathy, kindness, honesty and unconditional positive regard within a safe, comfortable and confidential space. Our sessions together aim to help you develop a stronger sense of self by giving you the space and time to explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement or prejudice. 

My office is tucked away discreetly on the ground floor and offers a comfortable and confidential space with wheelchair access and disabled toilets. Face-to-face sessions begin indoors so that we can go through our contract and complete a client assessment form. Depending on your needs (and the weather!) sessions can then either continue indoors or move to the outside environment.

I also offer online counselling sessions via Sessions or Zoom. This kind of therapy is the same as traditional therapy but happens online instead of face-to-face in my office. Even though we won't be in the same room, I will still be able to help you to explore how you’re feeling, understand what you are going through and support you to make changes in your life if you need to. 

It takes great courage to reach out for help to get through a difficult time. To make sure that I am the right counsellor for you, I offer a free 15 minute online or phone consultation before you commit to sessions.

In our first 50-minute session, we will go through the counselling contract and I will guide you through some initial assessments and questions around your history, support network, presenting issues and hopes for the future.