Pip Tonkins


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
My name is Pip and I am a qualified therapist, member of the British Association for counselling and psychotherapy(BACP), a Cruse Bereavement Support volunteer and volunteer for Phoenix Health and Wellbeing in Leeds. I am dedicated to providing compassionate and expert support to individuals and families facing a range of challenges.
Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, seeking support through transitions or simply looking for a space to explore your emotions, I am here to listen and support you every step of the way.
My own personal journey has been shaped by diverse and enriching experiences as a Cruse Bereavement volunteer, a mother of special needs children and as a military Veteran. Each of these roles has given me unique insights and a deep understanding of the complexities and emotional needs that come with uncertainty, change, stress, loss, special-needs parenting, autism, ADHD, OCD, dyspraxia, and the challenges of military life.
I aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals from various cultural, racial, gender, age group, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to feel understood and valued. My approach recognises your unique needs and I tailor my therapeutic interventions to ensure you receive equitable and personalised care.
Experience and expertise
Cruse Bereavement Volunteer
My work with Cruse Bereavement care over the last two years has equipped me with the skills to support individuals navigating the profound and often overwhelming journey of grief and loss. I lost my father not long ago and received a huge amount of support from Cruse. I hope to provide the same safe space for clients to express their emotions and find pathways to healing.
Parents of special-needs children
As a mother of special needs children, I intimately understand the joys and challenges that come with this role. My personal experience of autism, and having worked as a special needs assistant in many schools, ADHD and other comorbidities informs my empathetic and practical approach to counselling, offering tailored support for parents, carers and adults with these conditions. I strive to make counselling sessions accessible, and you are welcome to walk, stretch, move, be off camera and take breaks. I invite you to let me know how our time together can lead to a positive experience.
Military Veteran
Serving in the Armed Forces and married to a serving member for 28 years (so far) has given me a first-hand understanding of the unique stresses faced by military personnel and their families. I am able to understand and address issues related to military life, including PTSD, stress of separation and frequent moves, anxiety, depression, and the transition to civilian life. I am committed to ensuring you receive the care and support you deserve.
Culture and Heritage
Living in various countries has exposed me to a wide range of cultural norms, values and practices. This exposure has equipped me with the ability to understand and respect the cultural backgrounds of my clients, providing culturally sensitive and appropriate care. I tailor my approach to honour and incorporate a client’s experiences. Working with different cultures has made me more aware of diverse ways in which people experience and express emotions. I understand that cultural background can influence how individuals perceive and respond to mental health issues. This awareness has helped me with many clients to create a safe and inclusive space where they feel understood and respected.
Communication Skills
I have enhanced DBS clearance and insurance for working with children. Working in the UK and a Turkish school supporting special-needs children has strengthened my interpersonal skills and understanding of educational challenges. I have learned to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries, building trust and rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds. My international experiences have given me a broader understanding of global issues and their impact on mental health. I am aware of how factors such as immigration, acculturation and global conflict can affect individuals and families.
Volunteer Counsellor for Phoenix Health and Wellbeing
“Pip is a very valued member of our team. She has the rare ability to communicate in a gentle but confident way and our clients respond extremely well to her approach. Her communication style really conveys that she is a professional and proficient therapist. Her clients have absolutely bloomed. One client’s journey has been transformational. He has gone from a reserved, and uncertain, participant in counselling to someone who is fully engaged and embracing the journey. Phoenix Health and Wellbeing have benefited hugely from Pip's range of expertise. She has provided specialist counselling in the areas of addiction, domestic violence and abuse, trauma, anxiety, and bereavement for a wide range of people of different faiths, cultures and neurodiversity” - Gill, Director Phoenix Health and Wellbeing
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling skills
- Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning
- Experienced Cruse Bereavement Volunteer
- Volunteer counsellor at Phoenix Health and Wellbeing Leeds
- DBS enhanced certificate
- Online counselling certificate with OU and BACP
- Additional CPD and training
- Undergoing certification as a Women’s Coaching Specialist to enhance my knowledge, skills, and the confidence needed to help any woman - at any stage of life – who comes to me for support.
- Menopause training and experience.
- Providing online support to children and young persons
- Mindfulness coaching course
- Online training in supporting autistic, neurodiverse and challenging clients
- Relational couples counselling with Matthias Barker and Terry Reel
- Creative training using nesting dolls for bereavement clients
- Monthly Cruse training and supervision
- Safeguarding, suicide and risk management
Member organisations

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- 20 minute information call free of charge
- £60 per 50 minute session
- £65 per 60 minute session.
- £80 per 60 minute session Couples
Reduced session costs are available to students and veterans. Please contact me to discuss the options.
Please contact me and leave a message with your phone number so I can call you to discuss support options.
When I work
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Further information
I'm here if you're ready to take the next step towards healing. I'm here to support you on your journey. Reach out and arrange a 20 minute free chat and discover how we can work together. Contact details are below and I look forward to connecting with you and being your companion on your individual pathway.
I only work online and by telephone. I find that this gives clients maximum flexibility, and provides them with the opportunity to connect from a safe space of their choosing while reducing the stress and financial expense of travel.