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Philip
Counsellor and Coach
Philip
Counselling Highland Park - Auckland
Feeling distressed ? Wanting to heal and take life to a new level ?
Look no further. As an experienced Counsellor and Coach my expertise is to provide a healing environment where we can explore and validate your emotions. We can then work towards more empowered solutions and a more compelling future.
I qualified as a Counsellor in 2008 in the UK then transferred my qualification to meet New Zealand standards. I also completed a Coaching qualification in 2020. I have worked in supportive roles empowering others since 2000.
My 10 session Counselling and Coaching packages are tailor structured for you to be able to heal any distress then to create new patterns to move life to the next level. These can be for individuals and for couples. I also offer five session packages.
If you'd like a one off appointment to start with we can do this. Just reach out.
I am a provisional member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and abide by their ethical standards.
My sessions can be in person at Highland Park Community House in Auckland or online via zoom. So wherever you are I can help you. Just reach out via the Send a message - button.
Online therapy
Online sessions are all via zoom. Contact me to lock in a session time. Once the payment is received via the payment link I am able to send over your zoom link by email.
Qualifications and registrations
- Virtual Coach Program (2020)
- Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Counselling (2008)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills (2005)
- BA (Hons) Combined Studies (Psychology) (2001)
Registrations
Philip is listed among the counsellors in Auckland.
Therapy languages
Specialisations
- 1. Depression
- 2. Anxiety
- 3. Grief
- 4. Anger
- 5. Relationships
Specialisations and Expertises
I help people to heal the distress in past or present relationships and to create a new future.Most common issues I support people with:
Depression
Anxiety
Relationship struggles
Recovering from destructive relationships
Grief
Anxiety
Relationship struggles
Recovering from destructive relationships
Grief
Issues I can help with
- Abuse
- Addiction
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Being assertive
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Communication
- Depression
- Fear
- Feeling lonely
- Grief & loss
- Jealousy
- Phobia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Relationship issues
- Self confidence
- Setting boundaries
- Social phobia
- Stress
- Trauma
- Workplace stress
- Worrying too much
Fees
My fee is:
- $150 per 55 minutes session of individual counselling with 10 minutes added on to discuss best way forward. One time only
- $160 for couples. Same conditions.
- $1400 for package of 10 sessions for individual. Easy pay option available.
- Couples packages can be discussed after first session to find best fit.
All sessions are non refundable
Availability (Opening hours)
| monday | 9am - 8pm |
| tuesday | 9am - 8pm |
| wednesday | 9am - 8pm |
| thursday | 9am - 8pm |
| friday | 9am - 5pm |
| saturday | - |
| sunday | - |
I highly recommend Phil as a relationship and personal counselor
I highly recommend Phil as a relationship and personal counselor. He stands out in his field for having genuine empathy and a respectful client relationship style. He offers sound and practical advice.
Fleur | Auckland | January 31 2024
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A wonderful, passionate and caring person
I've found Phil to be a wonderful, passionate and caring person. He's quite holistic in his approach and always ready to expand his already excellent skills and knowledge of the profession.
Also highly recommended for LGBT people!
Also highly recommended for LGBT people!
Jim | Auckland | January 31 2024
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Tips posted by Philip:
- Topic | Tip
- Communication issues | Listen Actively and Empathetically
- Communication issues | Establish and Respect Boundaries
- Communication issues | Use "I" Statements to Express Yourself
- Communication issues | Tip 10 - Cultivate Patience and Understanding
- Communication issues | Focus on Solutions, Not Problems
- Communication issues | Clarify and reflect back
- Depression | Engage in Mindful Meditation
- Depression | Establish a Creative Outlet
- Confidence, insecurity, self esteem | Use ISMART goals to build confidence
- Relationship issues | Striving for adult to adult communication
- Anger management | Mastering the Storm Within: A Guide to Anger Management
- Anger management | Cultivate Self-awareness
- Anger management | Establish Healthy Boundaries
Interview
Read the interview with Philip.
Practice
1. Where is your practice (office) located?
In-person sessions are available at Highland Park Community House in Auckland (subject to room availability).
Online sessions are available via Zoom.
Phone sessions are also available at an agreed time (you call me).
2. What life events have been important to you?
Studying Psychology and completing my degree in 2001 laid the foundation for my lifelong commitment to understanding people and supporting meaningful change.
Completing my Counselling Diploma in 2008 marked the beginning of my professional journey working directly with clients.
Immigrating to New Zealand in 2009 was a significant life transition that deepened my appreciation for resilience, identity, and building a new life with purpose.
Personal milestones such as completing my first marathon in 2013 and building a family life with my partner have continued to shape my understanding of growth, commitment, and balance.
3. Why did you become a counsellor / therapist?
I developed a strong interest in psychology early on and completed my degree in 2001. I have always been naturally empathetic and deeply interested in understanding what helps people grow, heal, and move forward.
My own experience of personal therapy played an important role in shaping my direction. It helped me ground my life and clarified my calling to support others through meaningful change, just as I had experienced myself.
My own experience of personal therapy played an important role in shaping my direction. It helped me ground my life and clarified my calling to support others through meaningful change, just as I had experienced myself.
Since then, becoming a counsellor has felt like a natural extension of who I am — work that I feel deeply aligned with and committed to.
4. What do you like the most about being a counsellor/therapist?
What I value most about this work is seeing how meaningful change can grow from small but important moments of insight. I enjoy supporting people to reconnect with their emotions, develop a clearer sense of who they are, and begin taking more empowered steps in their lives.
It is incredibly rewarding to witness someone move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed toward feeling more grounded, peaceful, and confident in themselves and their relationships.
5. What is your most remarkable experience as a counsellor/therapist?
Rather than one single remarkable moment, what stands out to me is the consistent process of change that happens over time. Every person I work with brings their own story, challenges, and strengths.
What I find most meaningful is supporting someone to deepen their self-understanding, connect more fully with their emotional world, and begin making changes that feel authentic and sustainable. Seeing these gradual shifts unfold is what makes this work so worthwhile for me.
Life
1. What was your most pleasant moment today/yesterday?
Today it has been walking out to the marina near where I live. I feel grateful to live in such a beautiful part of New Zealand, and being able to walk by the beach most mornings helps me stay grounded and present. These simple moments of connection with nature are important for my own wellbeing and balance.
2. How do you see yourself in 5 years? And in 10 years?
In the next five years I see myself continuing to deepen my counselling practice, supporting both individuals and couples to build stronger emotional foundations and more meaningful relationships. I aim to keep growing professionally through ongoing learning, supervision, and experience while maintaining a balanced and sustainable way of working.
Looking further ahead, I see myself continuing to contribute to the counselling field through my practice, writing, and teaching, while maintaining a grounded personal life here in New Zealand. My focus is on long-term consistency — helping people create real, lasting change rather than quick fixes.
3. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy regular walks by the marina and coastline near where I live, staying active through gym training, and spending quality time with my partner and family. I also enjoy films, reading, and ongoing learning in psychology, wellbeing, and personal development. Maintaining a balance between movement, reflection, and connection is important to me.
4. What makes you happy?
Simple, grounded moments — being outdoors, meaningful conversations, growth in my work, and spending time with loved ones. Seeing people move forward in their lives and relationships also brings me a strong sense of fulfilment.
5. Do you have a partner and/or family?
Yes, I have a partner and am part of a re-partnered family. Family life is important to me, and I also value my role as a committed uncle. These relationships continue to shape my understanding of connection, communication, and personal growth.
6. Have you ever had therapy / counselling yourself? What was your experience?
Yes — personal therapy has been an important part of my own growth and development. It helped me deepen my self-awareness, ground my life direction, and strengthen my capacity to be present with others. Having experienced the counselling process myself allows me to genuinely understand what it feels like to sit in the client’s chair, which continues to inform the way I work today.
7. What other occupation would you have liked, if you hadn't become a counsellor / therapist?
I feel deeply aligned with counselling, so it’s difficult to imagine a completely different path. If I hadn’t become a therapist, I likely would have moved into related areas such as psychology-informed education, mental health support work, or professional writing and teaching within the healthcare and wellbeing field. My ongoing experience as a Psychiatric Assistant has also shaped my understanding of people, resilience, and the importance of steady, compassionate support.
Inspiration
1. Who inspires you?
Over the years I’ve come to see inspiration less as following particular figures and more as learning from thoughtful thinkers, experienced mentors, and meaningful life encounters that help shape how I work. My professional growth has been influenced by supervisors, colleagues, and therapeutic authors whose work emphasises understanding human nature, responsibility, and deep psychological insight. I value grounded mentorship and real-life experience over trends, and I continue to refine my approach through ongoing learning, reflection, and clinical practice.
2. Books you recommend?
A therapy book that has stayed with me over the years is Set Yourself Free by Shirley Smith. I found its exploration of shame, family dynamics, and personal responsibility deeply insightful, and its ideas have remained relevant to my work decades later. I value books that encourage thoughtful self-reflection and a deeper understanding of relational patterns, as these often support meaningful change both within therapy and in everyday life.
3. Your favourite film and why?
I don’t tend to have just one favourite film, but Back to the Future has always stayed with me. I’ve long been interested in themes of time, choice, and how small decisions can shape our direction in life. It’s a film that connects with a sense of curiosity, humour, and possibility, and I still enjoy revisiting it from time to time.
4. Your favourite quote?
"The only educated person is the one who has learned how to grow and change." Carl Rogers
5. What is your mission?
To help people work through inner distress, strengthen their relationships, and move towards a more grounded, authentic way of living.
6. What is your superpower?
A strong ability to listen deeply, combined with empathy, intuition, and the capacity to notice patterns that help people move forward with clarity.
7. Top tip for happiness?
I don’t believe there is a single tip to “feel happy.”
What I encourage instead is learning to listen to what you are genuinely feeling and to become curious about it rather than trying to force a particular emotional state. When we understand ourselves more deeply, a greater sense of calm and fulfilment often follows naturally. And if you’re struggling, reaching out for support can be an important first step.