- Person-centred focus
- Values-based change
- ACA counsellor
About Philip
Philip "Phil" Burns is an ACA counsellor who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and depression. He is based in Australia and uses a straightforward, person-centred approach to help people make sense of their current struggles.
Phil gives people space to work out who they are and what matters to them. He helps clients name their values and spot strengths they may overlook. That practical focus aims to help people make clearer choices about next steps in their life.
Sessions are shaped to each person’s needs. Phil draws on several evidence-based therapeutic techniques and adjusts his approach to suit the issue and the person. He pays attention to how past experiences affect what is happening now and uses that understanding to guide the work.
Common concerns he addresses include intimacy-related problems, communication difficulties, and the emotional effects of major life events such as separation or health challenges. He also supports people dealing with abandonment, caregiving stress, codependency and the fallout from family or relationship breakdown.
Phil has eight years of experience in counselling. He aims for sessions that feel useful and manageable, helping people develop skills they can apply between meetings. To start, clients complete a short questionnaire and arrange sessions based on the therapist’s schedule.
How therapeutic methods translate to online counselling
Phil draws on person-centred work and acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify what matters and act on it. Person-centred work emphasises listening, empathy and building a safe space so people can discover their own solutions. Acceptance and commitment approaches help people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, and choose actions that match their values.He also uses elements of cognitive behaviour work to identify unhelpful thinking and narrative therapy to reframe difficult stories people tell about themselves. These approaches help with anxiety, relationship patterns and the aftermath of trauma by offering practical tools and different ways to make sense of events.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, try methods that suit the issue, and adjust the plan as needed. Clients are invited to give feedback so the work stays relevant and useful.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, shorten travel time and allow follow-up check-ins between in-person visits. It can also make shorter phone or video catch-ups possible for brief reviews or crisis planning, but confirm which formats are available when you arrange sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
8+ years
Credentials
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Phil commonly help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, and trauma and abuse. Additional focus areas include abandonment, caregiving stress, attachment and family of origin problems.
What is Phil's therapeutic style?
He uses a person-centred style combined with practical, evidence-based techniques. Sessions focus on values, strengths and skills that clients can use between meetings.
How much counselling experience does he have?
Phil has eight years of experience working in counselling in Australia.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and practices in Australia.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people outside Australia work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are arranged for people in Australia.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin counselling with Phil?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.