Victoria Thompson-Clifton

If you grew up around chaos, addiction, emotional neglect, or relationships that didn’t feel safe, you may have become the “strong one” — the fixer, the peacemaker, the one who copes. On the outside you might appear capable, but underneath feel anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to shift.

I offer a warm, grounded and relational approach to therapy. My work is shaped by both professional training and lived experience, and I understand the long-term impact of childhood trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, addiction, and emotionally unsafe relationships. I also recognise how co-dependence and people-pleasing often develop as survival strategies, and how difficult it can be to rebuild self-trust after years of feeling unheard, controlled, or emotionally worn down.

I have strong working-class roots and bring a down-to-earth, non-judgemental approach into the therapy room. I work at a pace that feels safe, offering a steady and supportive space where you can explore what has happened to you and how it continues to affect your life today.

I work with individuals and couples and have particular experience supporting clients with domestic abuse and coercive control, trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and addiction (personal or within the family).

Alongside private practice, I have extensive experience in the voluntary sector across South London. Since 2019 I have worked with Sutton Women’s Centre delivering the Freedom Programme, women-only support groups and self-esteem programmes. I have also delivered domestic abuse training to professionals within the London Borough of Sutton.

Therapy with me is thoughtful, compassionate and gently challenging when helpful. My aim is to help you feel heard, understood and supported to create meaningful and lasting change.

My practice is based in our family home. We have a  small dog and a cat at home but they do not come into session with us.

In a first session I like to agree a contract for us working together, I will explain the approaches I use and ask you tell me why you have decided to engage with therapy