Philip "Phil" Burns, ACA

Philip "Phil" Burns is an ACA counsellor who offers calm, practical support for people feeling stuck or overwhelmed. He focuses on helping clients notice their strengths and clarify what matters to them. Phil writes and speaks plainly in sessions so people can make decisions that suit their life.

Phil draws on a blend of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to shape each session around the person in front of him. He listens for patterns from the past and looks at how these affect current relationships and mood. Together he and the client set small, achievable steps to test what helps in day-to-day life.

Phil has eight years of experience working with stress, anxiety, relationships, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns and depression. He also helps people facing issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, caregiver stress, codependency and the strain of divorce or blended families. People troubled by communication problems, commitment worries or ageing-related concerns may find a practical way forward in his sessions.

Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person. Phil uses elements of person-centred work, acceptance and commitment ideas, narrative approaches and cognitive behavioural techniques as relevant. Mindfulness and solution-focused strategies are often woven in to support coping and clearer decision making.

People who are considering counselling are encouraged to consider what they want to change and bring those goals to the first meeting. Phil works in English and practises in Australia, and aims to help clients build day-to-day skills that last beyond therapy.

How his approaches translate to online work

Phil uses a mix of well-established approaches in his work. Person-centred techniques focus on listening and understanding a person's experience so they feel heard and clearer about their values. Acceptance and commitment ideas help people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to small actions that reflect their priorities. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teach practical strategies to change patterns that cause distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. He will work collaboratively to decide which methods suit a person's needs, goals and preferences, and adapt those approaches as progress is made. Clients and therapist regularly check what is helping and change direction if needed.

If you are considering online counselling, confirm the current session options before booking. Many people find online work helps fit sessions into a busy week, reduces travel time and makes it easier to keep regular contact. Online sessions can also allow shorter check-ins on a workday or longer, deeper conversations when there is time. Discussing practicalities and preferences at the outset helps make remote sessions useful and manageable.