Phillipa Whitehead, BACP

Phillipa Whitehead works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and low self-esteem. She also supports those dealing with addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting strain, anger, career changes, ADHD and compassion fatigue. Phillipa writes plainly and meets people where they are, offering a listening space without judgement.

Phillipa has 11 years of professional experience as an integrative psychotherapist and is a BACP Therapist - Registered Member (MBACP). She has worked with adults in a range of settings and across many concerns. People come to her when they feel stuck, have a recent crisis, or carry difficult experiences from the past.

In sessions she follows a person-centred way of working, which keeps the client in control while she gently helps them find their own solutions. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy when these approaches suit a person’s goals. This mix lets her adapt to what each person needs in the room.

Phillipa aims to create a calm space where thoughts and feelings can be talked through at a comfortable pace. She encourages small practical steps as well as exploring deeper issues when useful. Her approach is collaborative, straightforward and tailored to each person’s situation.

She works with issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care concerns, ageing and long-term illness, communication and control problems, dissociation and the effects of domestic violence and addiction. Phillipa helps people take the next step when they want change or simply need to be heard.

How therapy approaches guide online sessions

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and respect. The therapist offers an accepting space where people lead the pace and decide what to talk about, which can help with low self-esteem, grief and feeling stuck.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses short practical exercises to test unhelpful thinking and build new coping skills, useful for anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. Phillipa will work with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences, and she can adapt the balance of listening, practical tasks and solution-focused work over time.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the exact formats available before booking. Many people find online therapy helps fit counselling into busy lives because it reduces travel, can be easier to schedule around work or caring responsibilities, and allows a quicker check-in when time is short. Others like the option to combine deeper talking with brief practical tasks between meetings. Registered or accredited professionals commonly tailor sessions to what works best for the person, balancing conversational space with goal-focused activities.