Phillipa Whitehead, BACP

Phillipa Whitehead is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and low self-esteem. She works with adults struggling with addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting strain, anger, career decisions and coping with life changes. She also supports people dealing with compassion fatigue, ADHD and a wide range of other concerns related to chronic illness, abandonment and separation. Phillipa offers a calm, non-judgemental space where clients can talk things through at their own pace. She uses a person-centred way of working so the person stays in control while she asks questions and reflects what’s being said. That approach aims to help people feel listened to and understood before practical steps are introduced. Alongside a person-centred style she draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to tailor sessions. These methods are used to identify unhelpful thought patterns, set manageable goals and build motivation for change. Trauma-focused ideas are also part of her toolkit when past harm is a key concern. Phillipa has eleven years of professional experience and is a BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP which indicates registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She works with adults across a broad range of emotional and life challenges, including caregiving stress, chronic pain and addiction-related issues. Her practice aims to help people find clearer options and make achievable changes. People who come to her often want to feel heard, regain direction or move away from feeling stuck.

How therapeutic approaches work for online counselling

Phillipa uses a person-centred way of working that focuses on listening, empathy and supporting a person to find their own solutions. This approach is useful for people who need to feel heard before making changes and can be applied in different session formats.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT helps with anxiety, depression and unhelpful thinking by teaching practical strategies and small experiments to test new ways of coping. Motivational Interviewing is another approach she uses to build a person’s own reasons for change, especially when someone feels unsure or stuck.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to the person’s goals, preferences and current situation and then suggest methods that fit. That decision is collaborative and can be adjusted as progress is made.

Session arrangements are not specified in the biography, so please confirm the available formats before booking. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving and travel, reduce time spent on journeys and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt techniques used in face-to-face therapy so they remain practical and goal-focused during remote sessions.