F.A.Qs

I studied for 3 years at the award winning Northern Guild School of psychotherapy and counselling. 
I am qualified to work with adults and also qualified separately to work with children and adolescents.
Both courses were BACP & UKCP accredited courses.

I am a registered member of The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP). The BACP is a membership organisation and a registered charity. It sets standards for therapeutic practice for counsellors.
To become a registered member you must graduate from a BACP accredited course and agree to their register terms and conditions, demonstrating my continued commitment to working professionally and ethically.


For further information or to check my membership with BACP please go to:
https://www.bacp.co.uk and search Philippa Westmacott
On arrival I will meet you at the door and show you to my comfortable, non-clinical counselling space. There is some brief paperwork for us to go through together, to share how our sessions will run and confidentiality processes. We will then gently start the counselling session at your pace. 
I hold an appointment known as the Parent Intake Meeting with parents/caters of children & young people under 16 (and sometimes 16-18yrs too) before I have an appointment with the child/young person.
The Parent Intake Meeting helps me to gather background information to support the therapy planning & provides parent carers to share concerns or worries and ask any questions about the process. 
At the first appointment with your child, I invite the parent to join for the first 10 minutes or so, to support with introductions and then the remaining 40 minutes is the young person and me without the parent present.
I provide a confidential, safe space for all my clients regardless of age or developmental stage. You may wish for a space to simply talk and process what's happening for you through conversation. I may ask questions to support exploration and help you process your situation.

For some adults & children, using more visual tools can be very helpful. This is always your choice. An example is when you may be invited to draw a time line to help you unjumble your world, see it on paper and help to provide a clearer start point. A younger child may be invited to draw the people in their world or their home/school.

For children processing whats happening for them is often supported through play, art, crafting & games. They often don't have the words and creativity can help.

I offer sand tray therapy to both children and adults.


There is no set number of sessions, as everyone's needs are very individual. Some clients have short term counselling with just a few sessions, others have longer term support. We can discuss this at the start of your counselling and review as we go to ensure your (or your child's) needs are met.
Counselling appointments and Parent Intake meetings are £70 each. This is payable by BACs.
All appointments last 50 mins. There are occasions where double sessions are available.