Philip Kemp, BACP

Philip Kemp is a humanistic counsellor and psychotherapist who draws on person-centred principles to help people navigate anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties and a wide range of life challenges. They work from a conviction that resilience is already present in most people and that, with a supportive therapeutic relationship, that resilience can be noticed, strengthened and used to make meaningful change.

Philip blends a person-centred foundation with a curiosity for other methods, including creative techniques, cognitive-behavioural practices such as positive affirmations, gestalt experiments and existential approaches. This flexible stance allows sessions to be shaped around what each person brings - whether that involves exploring identity and sexuality, processing trauma and abuse, coping with addiction, or addressing family and intimacy-related concerns.

Philip trained and gained counselling experience across the statutory and third sectors, including placements at The Outhouse (formerly Outhouse East), an LGBTQ+ charity, and with the probation service (Essex CRC). They currently practice with HBBS Counselling and run Black Sheep Counselling & Psychotherapy from their home in Brentwood. Philip offers video and telephone sessions to accommodate different needs and preferences.

Philip is a registered member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and follows its ethical framework, taking regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development. They have worked with people facing issues such as bereavement, suicidal ideation, domestic violence, racial identity concerns and a variety of LGBTQ+ matters including gender identity and expression.

Humanistic, Existential and Trauma-Informed Support Online

Philip offers online therapy that draws on client-centred, existential and trauma-focused ideas. Client-centred therapy focuses on creating a respectful, non-judgemental space where the person’s own experience guides the work - this approach is useful for building self-esteem, exploring identity and improving relationships. Existential therapy helps people face big life questions about meaning, choice and responsibility, and can be helpful for those coping with emptiness, life transitions or a sense of disconnection. Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on understanding and reducing the ongoing impact of past traumatic events and can support recovery from abuse, domestic violence and related difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Philip works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, and adapts the work as progress unfolds. This collaborative stance helps tailor sessions so they feel relevant and manageable.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer practical flexibility - they make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, to access support from where one lives, and to choose the format that feels most comfortable. Registered professionals can deliver meaningful, client-led work across these formats while supporting people through a wide range of concerns.