Philip "Phil" Burns, ACA

Philip "Phil" Burns is an ACA counsellor who helps people work through stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma, intimacy issues and depression. He uses everyday language and a respectful approach to help clients understand what matters to them. Sessions focus on practical steps and building skills that fit real life. Phil draws on several evidence-based methods to tailor each session. He mixes person-centred listening with techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioural approaches. Narrative and solution-focused ideas are used when they suit a person’s goals. He pays attention to how a person’s past shapes current patterns. That background helps him and the client decide what to change and what to accept. Phil encourages people to name their values and to try small changes that align with those values. Sessions are adapted to each person’s needs rather than using a fixed formula. Phil aims to help people notice their strengths, practise new responses, and make decisions that feel right for them. He also supports people dealing with separation, attachment issues, caregiver strain, and the emotional effects of illness. After eight years in the field, Phil keeps a practical focus in his work. He believes counselling can be manageable and even rewarding. The aim is clearer thinking, stronger relationships, and greater everyday enjoyment.

How evidence-based methods translate to online therapy

Phil commonly draws on person-centred work, acceptance and commitment techniques and cognitive behavioural ideas. Person-centred work involves careful listening and helping people name their values and strengths, which can guide decisions about relationships and intimacy. Acceptance and commitment approaches focus on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, then taking actions that match what matters to the person. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teach practical skills to change unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss what feels most useful and adjust methods based on each person’s goals, preferences and life circumstances. Clients help shape the focus and the pace of work over time.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people keep therapy in their routine during disruptions, while the therapist and client decide together what style and frequency suit them best.