Philip Kemp, BACP

Philip Kemp is a qualified humanistic counsellor and psychotherapist and a registered member of the BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy which sets professional standards for counsellors in the United Kingdom. They bring a person-centred foundation to their work, believing that people have an innate capacity for resilience that can be strengthened with compassionate support and careful challenge.

Across their training and practice, Philip has developed a style that balances warmth and non-judgemental listening with respectful challenge, offering a space where clients can explore difficult feelings and life questions. Their humanistic perspective emphasises personal growth and the potential to flourish even after hardship, and they often blend creative techniques with selective cognitive-behavioural practices such as positive affirmations, along with gestalt experiments and existential ideas.

Philip began training within statutory and third-sector settings, gaining experience at The Outhouse (formerly Outhouse East), an LGBTQ+ charity, and with the probation service (Essex CRC). They currently work as a counsellor for HBBS Counselling and run a private practice, Black Sheep Counselling & Psychotherapy, from their home in Brentwood. Philip offers video and telephone sessions to clients.

Over four years of practice, Philip has supported people facing depression, bereavement, suicidal thinking, domestic violence, racial identity concerns and a wide range of LGBTQ+ matters including gender identity, expression and sexuality. They continue to attend regular clinical supervision and pursue further training and research to refine their approach.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Philip draws from client-centred therapy, which focuses on listening with empathy and creating a supportive environment that helps people explore their feelings and sense of self - this approach can be helpful for issues like low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and life transitions. They also work with existential therapy, which invites reflection on meaning, choice and responsibility and can be useful for clients facing questions about identity, purpose or major life changes. In addition, Philip uses trauma-focused therapy techniques when needed to address the impact of traumatic experiences and help individuals process difficult memories and reactions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Philip will work together with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the focus as therapy progresses to ensure the best possible match between client and approach.

Online therapy with Philip is offered through flexible formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - allowing people to access support from home or other convenient locations. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time and support access for those who find in-person sessions difficult, while enabling ongoing continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists.