Hi, I'm Philippa

Vetamorphosis was born in 2017, and - true to its name - has undergone its own metamorphosis over the years.

The beginning: After 9 years as a vet, I experienced burnout during residency training in 2014. I returned to veterinary practice in a new leadership role, equipped with both a Foundation Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills and a Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Education. I started Vetamorphosis in 2017, initially offering mentoring and skills training to less experienced team members. I introduced workshops to help veterinary teams develop the emotionally demanding aspects of practice - having difficult conversations, discussing euthanasia around children, supporting each other through the tough days.

The evolution: The work revealed deeper needs than educational support could address. I undertook a three-year Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling and began working as a therapist in 2020. Following an 18-month post-qualification process, I gained UKCP registration as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor in 2023. As my therapeutic practice developed, I increasingly focused on veterinary professionals, recognising they needed access to deeper, ongoing support - and there weren't enough therapists who understood the sector. Vetamorphosis evolved to reflect this shift.

What exists today:

My therapy practice: I work individually with veterinary professionals navigating leadership challenges, burnout recovery, career transitions, workplace conflict, and the unique psychological demands of veterinary work. I'm a UKCP-registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with 20 years of veterinary experience - you won't need to explain the context of your work before we can address what's actually troubling you. I work in a pluralistic, tailored way with each client; integrating many modalities and skills.

The Directory: A not-for-profit resource connecting veterinary professionals with therapists who have veterinary experience and understanding of the profession.

The Therapist Network: A small peer community of veterinary-experienced therapists who meet monthly for mutual support, shared learning, and professional development. We're building collective expertise in supporting this sector effectively.

Why this structure? The veterinary profession's mental health needs far exceed what any single practitioner can address. I needed to both provide direct therapeutic support AND build infrastructure that connects veterinary professionals with appropriate help more broadly. Vetamorphosis holds both - my individual practice and the community resources that support wider access to care.

Vetamorphosis continues to evolve as the needs of the profession and the therapeutic community develop. It's an organic, responsive approach to a complex challenge.

My background: I hold a BVSc, PGCert in Veterinary Education, Foundation Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills, and Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling (Distinction) and a certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring. I'm UKCP registered, a member of the Association for Coaching and an MRCVS. I've been practicing as a therapist since 2020, with over 1,300 hours of supervised therapeutic work.