Counselling

As an experienced counsellor, I offer a nurturing environment where you will be listened to, valued and accepted as you work through issues. 

I offer counselling for adults and young people, aged 13+.

Sometimes our ability to keep going can feel undermined by ongoing issues or something happens that can make life feel very challenging.  You may struggle with negative self-beliefs, such as ‘I’m a failure’, or ‘I’m not good enough’. Counselling can help you understand how your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, choices and behaviours impact on each other and are lived out in your everyday life. Gaining this self-awareness can help overcome controlling negative self-beliefs and open up new choices and new approaches to life issues. 

Or perhaps you find yourself stuck in habitual thought and behaviour cycles. Through counselling you can explore your development as a person and your relationships. This can help uncover aspects of yourself which cause you to feel and act the way you do. Once you gain this self-understanding, you can then work on developing reactions and responses that are understood and desired, supporting relational confidence and self-acceptance.

Sometimes emotions and experiences can be difficult to address using words. If this is your experience, we can work together creatively, using a range of toys, pictures, creative writing, art, sand, clay and representational objects. We can also use drama and movement to create, tell and explore your stories. For some creative sessions, we could meet at an art gallery or museum, if you wish, where we can view art work or historic artefacts and reflect on what these different images or objects mean or say to you. (Note: meeting at an art gallery or museum is offered to age 18+ clients).

Creativity combines well with mindfulness.

Issues we may work together on in counselling:

Anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem, developing emotional resilience, work and study pressures, bereavement, trauma, developmental trauma, self-harm, eating disorders, addictions, domestic violence and close relationship abuse, friendship conflict, family breakdown, pregnancy and birth loss.

Other focus areas:

Christian spiritual accompanying.

Exploring your spiritual formation.

Cross cultural counselling.

Client Testimonials:

“Philippa helped us through what was a terribly distressing and traumatic time in our son’s, and therefore our, life: her patient and gentle manner were so welcome; she did not “tell us what to do” but listened, as we tried to understand and process what was happening, helping us to think around the situation, giving ideas and advice as necessary. Her loving compassion is tangible.”

“I talked with Philippa online and even through the computer screen I felt keenly her strength to hold what I was saying, without rushing. She allowed space and helped me unpack stuff with gentle authority. I also saw in her face genuine empathy as I spoke and no judgement. Thank you Philippa.”

"Philippa came highly recommended to me and now I can see why! Her friendly and calming manner put me at ease and gave me a space to talk about difficult emotions and experiences. Together, we worked through my goals and Philippa's guidance and reflections enabled me to develop a greater understanding of myself. I have finished feeling happier, more confident and more aware of who I am. I would certainly recommend her!!"

"I would recommend Philippa as a counsellor - she is friendly, empathic, supportive and has encouraged me to recognise the significance of losses that occurred during my early life which has given me a greater understanding of myself."