Phillipa Whitehead, BACP

Phillipa Whitehead welcomes people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, relationship and intimacy concerns, addiction and sleep problems. She also supports those facing parenting strain, anger, career uncertainty, major life changes and compassion fatigue. Phillipa is a BACP member with eleven years' experience working with adults in a range of settings across the United Kingdom.

She offers a calm, non-judgemental space to talk and to uncover what matters most to each person. Sessions are led by the client’s priorities, with the counsellor helping to slow things down and clarify next steps. Phillipa describes her style as warm and practical, aiming to make therapy feel straightforward and useful.

Her approach is person-centred at its core, which means she focuses on listening and responding to the individual rather than imposing a fixed plan. She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy techniques when they suit a person’s goals. That mix helps address patterns of thinking, and to build small, manageable changes.

Phillipa has worked with adults who feel stuck after previous treatments, those living with long-term difficulties, and people dealing with recent crises. She can help with practical strategies as well as exploring painful memories at a pace that feels right for the client.

Sessions are conducted in English and she accepts international clients. To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

How Phillipa’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy places the person’s own experience at the heart of sessions. The counsellor listens, reflects and follows the client’s lead so they can work at their own pace and find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns and ease symptoms such as anxiety or low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Phillipa will discuss different ways of working and decide with the client which mix of person-centred listening and practical techniques fits their goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process and can change as needs evolve.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm which formats are offered before booking, as the biography does not list them. Many people appreciate online therapy because it can fit more easily around work and family commitments, reduce travel time and make it simpler to keep regular appointments. Online sessions can also make it easier to focus on shorter check-ins or to choose a quieter setting during a break from other activities. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists adapt their techniques so the same kinds of exploration and practical work can be done remotely.