About Vicki McKeown and VLM Therapy
About Vicki McKeown and VLM Therapy

About VLM

About VLM

About Vicki McKeown and VLM Therapy
About Vicki McKeown and VLM Therapy

About Vicki McKeown

About Vicki McKeown

My journey into therapy didn’t begin in a lecture hall it began in practice. After qualifying with an MA in Social Work, I found myself sitting with children and families who were carrying enormous amounts of pain and trauma, and I kept hitting the same wall: the systems around us simply didn’t allow for the depth of work those people needed. That realisation led me to train as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.

I’ve been working directly with clients for 15+ years and have been in private practice since 2016, and what I bring to every session is the wealth of real life experience across social work, therapy, trauma, safeguarding, and supervision. My practice is based in North Shields, and I work with adults, children, young people, and families across the North East.

My Approach

My Approach

I don’t work from a single fixed model. Instead, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches, tailoring the work to you and your needs. Depending on what feels most helpful, this may include person-centred therapy, psychodynamic approaches, EMDR, DDP, trauma-informed practice, or attachment theory. The focus is always on finding the approach that creates the best opportunity for meaningful change.

My specialist areas are trauma, attachment, and shame. I work with adults making sense of difficult childhood experiences, children and young people who have experienced loss, neglect, or abuse, adoptive and foster families, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, bereavement, or major life transitions.

I believe behaviour is communication. Whether I’m working with a child struggling at school, an adult caught in repeating patterns, or a parent feeling overwhelmed, my starting point is always curiosity rather than judgement. Together, we can explore what lies beneath the surface and make sense of what’s happening.

Alongside my therapy practice, I am an accredited clinical supervisor. I complete more than 30 hours of CPD each year, focusing on trauma, attachment, safeguarding, dissociation, and developments in therapeutic practice. This commitment reflects my belief that clients deserve a therapist who is knowledgeable, reflective, and dedicated to providing the highest standard of care.

VLM Therapy

Academic & Professional

MA Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
EMDR Practitioner
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 1 & Level 2
Clinical Supervisor (accredited training)

VLM Therapy

Professional Registrations & Memberships

NCPS Accredited Member
National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Accredited membership means I meet rigorous standards for training, practice hours, ongoing supervision, and continued professional development.

Registered Social Worker
I maintain my registration with Social Work England, reflecting my ongoing commitment to ethical, regulated practice.

VLM Therapy

Continuing Professional Development

I complete at least 30 hours of CPD each year focusing on the areas most relevant to my clients and supervisees. This includes, but isn’t exclusive to, attachment, trauma, complex PTSD, dissociation and safeguarding. I also stay up to date with developments in research, legislation, and clinical practice to ensure my work remains current, informed, and effective.

VLM Therapy

Insurance & Governance

Full professional indemnity insurance
Enhanced DBS checked
GDPR compliant – clear data protection and confidentiality policies
Regular clinical supervision with an accredited supervisor

Qualifications & Accreditations

Academic & Professional

Academic & Professional

MA Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
EMDR Practitioner
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 1 & Level 2
Clinical Supervisor (accredited training)

Qualifications & Accreditations

Professional Registrations & Memberships

Professional Registrations & Memberships

NCPS Accredited Member
National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Accredited membership means I meet rigorous standards for training, practice hours, ongoing supervision, and continued professional development.

Registered Social Worker
I maintain my registration with Social Work England, reflecting my ongoing commitment to ethical, regulated practice.

Qualifications & Accreditations

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development

I complete at least 30 hours of CPD each year focusing on the areas most relevant to my clients and supervisees. This includes, but isn’t exclusive to, attachment, trauma, complex PTSD, dissociation and safeguarding. I also stay up to date with developments in research, legislation, and clinical practice to ensure my work remains current, informed, and effective.

Qualifications & Accreditations

Insurance & Governance

Insurance & Governance

Full professional indemnity insurance
Enhanced DBS checked
GDPR compliant – clear data protection and confidentiality policies
Regular clinical supervision with an accredited supervisor

Therapy Room

Therapy Room

The therapy room is based at my private practice in North Shields and is designed to feel calm, welcoming, and non-clinical. With soft grey walls, warm wood flooring, and comfortable seating, it’s a space where adults can think quietly and children can feel at ease.

For children and young people, the room includes a dollhouse, soft toys, games, arts and crafts, and sensory materials. These resources are chosen thoughtfully because the room itself is part of the therapeutic process, offering children different ways to express what they may not yet have words for.

The space works equally well for adults, providing a comfortable and private setting for therapy sessions. Free street parking is available nearby, and full details are shared when arranging your first appointment.

If attending in person isn’t possible, sessions are also available online via a secure video platform. Online therapy is a full and confidential option, whether you’re elsewhere in the North East or further afield.

Clients’ Success Stories

Thank you Vicki for all your support with our child’s journey.

You got him thinking about himself, his actions and his feelings and helped him through the difficult transition to high school.

Your support for us as a family has been invaluable.

Adoptive Parent