Rate Philip Kemp

Hello, my name is Philip Kemp, MBACP, and I am a qualified Humanistic counsellor and psychotherapist.

Are you feeling low? Anxious? Questioning your worth for others and yourself? Feeling isolated irrespective of your social and community connections? You are not alone. Whilst battling these internal conflicts can leave you feeling alienated, and somewhat of a black sheep, my experiences, both professionally and personally, suggest that these are universal of human living.

So how does one deal with these issues? Over the course of my counselling training, I have developed the belief that individuals are stronger and more capable than they would ever give themselves credit for, even in the face of adversity. While I believe this capacity for resilience is innate in human beings, with the backing of a supportive other such as a counsellor or psychotherapist, the rewards of this human quality can be greater reaped and enhanced.

These tales of resilience along with the philosophy of Humanistic psychology underpin the way that I work. I believe that not only are human beings capable of surviving in the face of hardship, but flourishing. My role is simply to provide a warm, non-judgmental but challenging environment through which you can explore anything you wish to bring to the session, where your voice will be heard and your confidentiality will be protected.

While my background is predominantly person-centred, I have a keen interest in various other therapeutic interventions, including creative techniques, CBT practices such as positive affirmations, gestalt experiments and existential therapy.

I am a registered member of the BACP and abide by their ethical framework, attending regular clinical supervision and continuing to enhance my practice through further training and research. I offer video and telephone sessions.

I started my training within the statutory and third sector industries, accruing my counselling hours through The Outhouse (formerly Outhouse East), an LGBTQ+ charity, and the probation service (Essex CRC). I currently work as a counsellor for HBBS Counselling, and operate my private practice Black Sheep Counselling & Psychotherapy from my home in Brentwood.

Over the course of my career, I have engaged with a range of client experiences, including depression, bereavement, suicide ideation, domestic violence, racial identity and various LGBTQ+ issues, including gender identity and expression and sexuality.