Phil took time to really listen, analyze, offer insight, and keep me focused. He is very kind, would help redirect my thinking, and suggests measurable goals for change. I would definitely recommend him with confidence.
Phil D'Agostino, LCMHC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Phil is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Phil. View 94 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in North Carolina
Recent reviews
The greatest!
More about Phil
- 29 years' experience
- Male
- LCMHC
I believe that when it comes to being depressed, anxious/fearful, or if you are having real problems in your relationship, you want relief and you want it as soon as you can get it. People don't seek a counselor to talk, they go to find a way to feel better, be better and never need you again as soon as possible. That's why I use the methods and principles normally associated with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), or Brief Therapy.
My training was first as a scientist and science educator. Dealing with people from all walks of life, I came to realize we are far more alike than we are different and that we are all susceptible to being depressed, anxious and having relationship difficulties. I trained in hypnosis to help with obsessive thinking and behavior change (like smoking, overeating, social and other anxieties, etc.), and to become a psychological counselor through the UNC-G graduate studies program.
In all that time (beginning to help others in 1989) I came to find that the fastest way to get your life back is to employ the principles and strategies studied and described as CBT. Whatever you call it (several names can be applies), taking a more practical, here-and-now approach with understanding what your problems are and creating a plan of action to make them better is the most direct and most successful way to make things better. It places the power of control and to heal right in the hand of the individual, not a therapist, not a drug...you.
We all know that it isn't always easy. And being realistic means we acknowledge that sometimes it can be mighty tough. The wonderful part of it is that with the right therapist, this approach is tested and proven, and gives you a real reason to hope and be encouraged that, while it might take some time, you can get better.
After years of practice, the passion to help others translated in my authorship of nearly two dozen training courses in subjects like gaining emotional control, resolving conflicts, dealing with people that are very hard to deal with, leadership, management, and others. I also authored Ready Access CBT for Working Professionals (Lorman Education) to share what I know with other therapists, and a book to bring these principles to the public titled, Naked Thinking.
I focus my help for those who are suffering with depression and anxiety problems (which can include transitional issues like loss of a job, a relationship, speaking up for yourself, speaking to groups or just your boss, etc.) and relationship problems (which can include marital and couples problems, family issues, work and co-worker issues, etc.)
Specialties
Treatment Approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Phil D'Agostino's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1124178579.
- LCMHC · North Carolina · 3183 · Expires June 2026
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.
Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Phil D'Agostino
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Phil took time to really listen, analyze, offer insight, and keep me focused. He is very kind, would help redirect my thinking, and suggests measurable goals for change. I would definitely recommend him with confidence.
The greatest!
Phil is a thorough listener and a great story teller. He relates with realism and history. He guides gently and helps to get you to the understanding you're looking for. He is a wonderful encouranger, and is absolutely one I would recommend.
He helped me greatly, I learned and realised a lot about myself and it was certainly empowering. He showed me a lot of support and care, at the same time told me straightforward for what I had to hear which was really insightful. I feel absolutely blessed to have chosen him to be my counselor.
I found my sessions with Dr Phil to be very helpful indeed. I was able to focus on a number of issues and felt that I was listened to and supported. I feel in a better place to move on with my life and have certainly made a lot of progress. Thank you very much!
Phil is great. He has helped me through a particularly challenging season of life. He listens to me and is very responsive. I appreciate all he has done for me.
Phil D’Agostino is a wise and compassionate counselor whose depth of understanding of the human condition far exceeds what is typically shared in a counseling session. Anyone who has the opportunity to spend time talking with him, will be truly blessed.
A wonderful coach and council who has excellent insight and a calming manner. Thank you for the advice which gave me the clarity I needed. I highly recommend Phil D’Agostino.
Phil has been very helpful in listening and giving feedback that helps me examine my thinking. His techniques have worked when I've applied them. I would recommend Phil to anyone who needs encouragement, a listening ear and a caring heart, as well as an experienced counselor who will give you much food for thought.
He is an excellent counselor.
Phil is amazing. I love his diversity and he brings all of that to the table and in the advice he gives. Its a welcomed change and great approach from the more traditional types of counseling. I wouldn't be hesitant to recommend him to anybody including those in the social services fields.
Phil is very respectable and understanding. He helped me sort my issues in a short time. Strongly recommend him to anyone who needs help.
Very responsive, knowledgeable, and he seems to really care.
In our first session Phil was able to identify so many points that we can work on in addition to that pick up on my strengths and encourage me
Phil was very thorough in our video chat and has been checking in regularly. He seems to genuinely care for our family.
I thank you for this wonderful man who has helped me a great deal. Thank you so much, Phil- I will not forget you. God bless you my friend.
Phil is great! I have benefited greatly from his care!
We Appreciate Phil's time in helping us, he has been of great benefit to us and I would recommend his therapy to others.
I believe that Phil is very well educated when it comes to helping people cope/manage their emotions and behavior. He provides the steps and initiatives that need to be taken in order for the individual to slowly start breaking down the barrier that is holding them hostage/captive. He can also provide great scientific and psychological facts in order for the person to gain a clearer understanding of the current dilemma they are facing. He offers biblical wisdom for those who believe that their battle may be spiritual as well.
He’s still wonderful and I enjoy all our sessions!
He’s amazing as always
I’ve worked with Phil for about a year. At First I was so broken and lost and was giving up hope. Phil was the third therapist I met over the first month of seeking help. I liked his approach to my concerns and that he seemed genuinely thoughtful about my situation. He provided me with very valuable insight and techniques to help me on my journey to recovery. I was always against the thought of therapy and I shouldn’t have waited till I was at my whits end. I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me.
He’s AWESOME
Phil was well-matched with me in various respects, including having some experience of a medical problem I was struggling with. He is kind and empathetic. Also assisted me with some marital issues, and I think about his phrase "you have to figure out what the most important job is" often! If you've been in CBT before, you will recognize some of his techniques, but I found the refresher course helpful.
Phil has been counselling a long time and it shows in our sessions. He listens intently and gets right down to business providing insight and tools to help me with my personal situation. I'd highly recommend him.
Excellent as always
I experienced government funded therapy a few years ago and didn’t get anything from it. I feel Phil offered solutions instead of recommendations to go try other stuff which I received from previous therapy. I was definitely happy with his drectness.
What can I say Dr Phil. has become one of my favorite persons. I enjoy our sessions and look forward to speaking with him. I have learned a lot about myself and the people in my life that need to stay or leave. I am looking forward to my better future because of his participation in every session we have had. I wish Dr. Phil nothing but blessings for him and his love ones.
Phil is absolutely incredible. A guardian angel. He completely understood my primary concerns and helped guide me all the way. He is very kind and caring and only wants the best possible outcome. He is confident and smart and cleared out any doubts I had with taking therapy. He also made it clear to me that his goal is for me to no longer need him and wanted to achieve that as soon as possible. I will forever be grateful for Phil’s assistance and would recommend him to anyone who is struggling.
Phil was very respectful and always had a well thought out and helpful response to whatever problems I presented him with. I would highly recommend him to anyone else who is in need of help, especially in regards to helping people with the ways they perceive themselves.
In only 3 sessions with Phil, he has helped me tremendously. He listens, understands and offers practical solutions. I trust his expertise and would highly recommend him to anyone!
Phil is an exceptional therapist. He is well versed, extremely articulate, and very compassionate. I like his down to earth style, consistency, and energy.
Dr. Phil is still amazing! He’s been my counselor for several years now and we have a great rapport and I know I’ll get the advice I need, not what I want to hear! He’s great and has helped me through a lot and I’m very grateful
Phil is a wonderful councillor. Helpful and insightful through and through. I was initially nervous about opening up to a new human but Phil made it so easy. He is funny, kind, and I will carry the tools he has given me forever. Thank you Phil
Phil knows his stuff! He makes me feel comfortable and open to talking about what's bothering me.
Phil was a great therapist and helped me through many things. He listens, understands and provides actionable advice and insights. Thanks Phil!
I feel so lucky to have found Phil D'Agostino. His knowldge is so diverse and he supports me on a whole range of topics to improve myself and my decision making. He has helped to raise awareness about myself about things I never thought about before. I look forward to every session and learn new and useful things every time. Thank you Phil for everything!
Phil helped me a year ago, and I decided to ask for his help again as I trust his expertise and I knew the benefits I would gain from the sessions with him. He listens, he’s very knowledgeable, it’s really easy to talk to him and I can honestly tell that I would learn something and make progress after every single session. The only reason I stopped counseling is because I’m feeling better, but I highly recommend him and I would pick him a third time if I needed therapy again! Thank you again Phil!
Thank you Phil for going the extra mile, your support, kindness and humour is some of the best therapy a person could have.
I was a little worried talking to a male therapist . But dr.phill was really nice and I look forward to the next call we have. He is really smart .
I was initially nervous of having a male to talk to, but within minutes Phil put my mind at ease. He is non judgemental and patient. I really enjoyed his anecdotes which gave me examples of how to use his suggestions/methods. He takes a very practical approach to solving problems and I always feel so much better after talking to him. Thank you so much Phil.
I had several sessions with Dr Phil D'Agostino. He helped to deal with many problems that I had in my life for years. I am really happy that I had the opportunity to have him as my therapist
When I saw Dr Phil's profile and reviews, I had high expectations that he would help me with what I was going through. From day 1, his goal was to make sure I didn't need him as soon as possible. His amazing insights and perspective on things really helped me to the point where within less than 2 months I feel like I got more than I expected from BetterHelp. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone who feels they need therapy, and I'll most certainly go to him if I need help in the future.
I have been working with Doctor Phil for a few months, I was in a very upsetting and sad situation and point of life when I started to work with him, however the first time when I was talking to him, I already felt a lot better, as time went by, I feel better and better, and I am not upset any more. He is a really cool person, sharing a lot of useful examples with me and listening to me, I really appreciate for what he did for me, and you are very lucky if you got him as your counselor too, just like me. PS: Thank you so much Doctor Phil, you helped me and made my life better, you are COOL! :)
When I started with Phil I was probably in the worst place I had ever been. I was crippled with anxiety which had seemingly came out of nowhere and I didn't understand what was going on. Phil gave me insights and an understanding of what was going on with me which I simply couldn't have gained alone. He was always quick to respond to messages and had a good availability despite the time zone difference. He allowed me to look at things in a completely different light. I would absolutely recommend Phil.
It is a great experience to talk with Doctor Phil, right after the first time when we talked, I knew that I could trust him and he didn't judge me, he listenes to me and makes me feel better about myself. I am looking forward to my next talk with him.
Phil demonstrates a solid clinical expertise while listening intently and understanding the complexities of mental health with a demonstrated ability to identify the needs of the individual. Recovery is his clearly stated goal. Phil validates and comforts as he challenges me to be proactive with my progress towards healthy living.
Phil has been a great asset to my personal and professional growth. I look forward to continue to keep working with him.
Dr Phil was helpful all through my past sessions. He's a thoroughbred!
Phil has been great. He's been online frequently so we were able to chat via messages as and when I've been able to. He's listened and asked the questions I needed to guide my thoughts.
Phil has been very helpful at making me understand my emotional hang ups and shown me the way out of my dilemas. He is very pragmatic and to the point which is exactly what I need.
Amazing, wonderful and caring counselor! I was with “Dr. Phil” as I liked to call him for about two years. He saw me through my ups and downs and some of my downs were very low. But he was always understanding and genuine with his guidance and advice! I cannot believe how far I have come in these past two years and I know I would never have been able to get to this point on my own. I am so happy with where I am in my life as I know that I will be able to continue on a forward and upward path because of Dr. Phil. I highly recommend him and thank him most graciously for all of his work and everything he helped me through.
Phil has been a very helpful sounding board and counselor. He gave me new perspectives on my family situation and the challenges I was facing as a father with my adult son. On several occasions I felt after talking with Phil, “That time spent talking with Phil was more necessary than I thought!” I appreciate also his spirituality as well as his practicality. A healthy balance.” I would definitely recommend Phil.”
Phil is great. I highly recommend him. He has a deep understanding of people. He has helped me a lot.
He is perfect.
Phil has helped me a lot. He's actually the best therapist I got to talk to so far. It is easy to talk to him, and he really tried to get to know me and helped me question myself about a couple of elements in my life and not only the one that was the reason why I started counseling in the first place. I would totally recommend him.
In just a short month, Phil has propelled my development forward in ways I never thought I’d achieve. He blends encouragement and challenge with my interests at the forefront at all times. Thank you! You’re the best Dr. Phil out there!
Phil is absolutely fantastic. He's a great listener and I always leave from my therapy sessions feeling lighter. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a great knack for picking up on how I am feeling and knowing what to say. He also has a great sense of humor and I enjoy the banter we have. This is invaluable to me because it really helps to lighten the tone of the session and helps me to feel more at ease to talk. I really feel that Phil is helping me on my way to understanding myself and being less self-critical. Thank you!
Phil is a very kind, attentive, smart and funny person. He helped me to do things that were way overdue and that I was very terrified to do. Thank you!
It is very unusual for me to write a review but I had to write one based on my amazing experience with Dr Phil. I was so lucky that I was connected with Dr Phil and I should point out here that I am impressed with the Betterhelp's algorithm to connect each individual with the right counselor. I started my counseling with Dr Phil almost a year ago and it has been an amazing journey from being someone who was in a dark place to being someone who is happy and cheerful again and in a much better place both mentally and physically. He took time to understand me and my problems and worked with me to fix it permanently. He is an ocean of knowledge and offers help based on his experience of so many years. He has logical explanations to every problem that I have shared with him and has helped me with coping mechanism that worked specifically for my personality rather than recommending something that I may not have followed through upon. If you are looking to work on yourself and be happy in the short and long run, you have come to the right place and right person. Dr Phil is everything you want from a counselor.
Phil is an excellent counselor. He quickly understood what my problems were and provided me with actionable advice and relevant principles of CBT. Phil supplemented his teachings with his vast life and business experience, and his interest in history and science, which meant that not only were our sessions helpful, but also thought-provoking. I was able to challenge my old ways of thinking with him, and learnt to see the world in a different way. Phil has provided me with the tools I need to face challenges and grow on my own. What I have learnt with him has become a part of me and will continue to help me throughout my life. He also has experience with international clients. Timings were never an issue. He made sure that I got a time slot that was comfortable for me.
He’s excellent. Professional but yet funny! He’s really helps me be honest about my feelings.
Phil has been instrumental in helping me feel more in control of my life and navigate various issues over the past several months. He is a patient counsellor and provides pragmatic solutions. He also keeps things relatable and is available to answer my many questions. I am grateful for his guidance.
I really like Phil as he has the capacity of listening and at the same time takes the really important from everything we say. He is diligent and responds fast and accommodates to my schedule even though I live in Dubai and it’s very different timezone and everything. He is easy to talk with and I feel very comfortable with him. I was lucky you accurately set me with him.
Phil was amazing and was a great help for me. Step by step I improved my social life and the attitude to things around me. Since I started counseling with him, I saw improvements in my psyche with every session. He helped to fix relationship with my parents, to improve my motivation and attitude to life and made me going on socialization. Phil is extremely adequate, professional and helpful counsellor. The money and time I spent for this counseling didn't go to waste - to say lightly. I highly recommend him. All the best to him and you.
Phil took me from being completely at a loss in terms of my goals, life direction, meaning, anxiety and confidence and in just ten sessions deconstructed and advised on all major facets of my life, and provided me with the tools and wisdom to move forward from the psychological crossroads I'd been stuck at for the last two years. He's funny, knowledgeable and a great counsellor, highly recommend. A truly transformative experience and I will be forever grateful.
Talking with Phil has been very beneficial. He is knowledgeable and has good insight into different life struggles and ways to deal with them. I was given coping skills and walked through how to use them. Recommended.
Phil is an excellent counselor who helped me better through a tough time. He gave me the tools to make my own decision and find out what I really want from my marriage. Highly recommend.
He is the best counselor.
He quickly helps you get down to the core issues, and helps you put things in perspective. Very easy to talk to straight forward advice. His book NAKED THINKING also has great tools that really make you dig deep and think about your core values and what's important within the first 50 pages it allowed me to better understand my situation and struggles.
I like Phil alot. He is very funny, engaging, and insightful. But it does not end there. He will do all he can to fit into your schedule and time and make the most of it. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeing these reviews.
Phil is positive and funny, and very good at explaining the rationale behind techniques to manage emotions. I have come away with a work plan that I can put into place every day, to stop myself slipping, and I feel far more positive about my future. I'm enormously grateful.
Phil is an experienced and competent counselor. If you're looking for an approach along the lines of Carl Rogers' unconditional positive regard, Phil is a good choice.
My time with Phil was hugely beneficial for both my mental health, as well as some of the largest and most difficult life decisions I had struggled immensely with approaching and overcoming. Phil worked with me to develop patient-centered plans based on my values and my priorities and for that, I am forever indebted to him. Following these large decisions and 1 year later, I can confidently say that I have found a new and much more fulfilling life.
I've done talk therapy for many, many years, but doing CBT with Phil has made a big difference in how I handle my anger. He patient, understands my issues, and has helped my partner and I reduce our fights (we are now doing couples therapy with him). Phil is the only therapist that's been able to give my partner and I successful tools to draw on.
Phil has been a great listener to me! He offers me invaluable and objective advice to help me navigate my issues / the situation! Many thanks to him!! Highly recommended
Phil is fun and laid back. He’s good at offering advice without being pushy. He listens and doesn’t judge.
Phil is an excellent counselor. Throughout phone conversations, he was quickly able to understand my issues and provide sound and evidence based counseling. He is a very good listener, and his genuine and warm demeanor make him very easy to speak with. Additionally, it is apparent that he has many years of strong experience. He helped me through some important decisions and I am grateful. Highly recommend Phil.
Phil was really great in helping me see things more clearly. I'm definitely feeling a lot better and more confident in my life and would recommend him!
Phil helped me to better understand and overcome a professional/career issue I needed help with. He was very responsive and always professional and understanding. Thanks to his valuable insights I could work out the issue much faster than I would have expected. I would recommend Phil to anyone!
Phil has really helped me overcome some issues and listens to me, offers me a safe space to offload and get good advice. I would highly recommend Phil to anyone.
I would highly recommend Phil! He helped me to get through some tough family and behavioural issues I had been struggling with for years. He helped me to set goals for myself and make great progress throughout my therapy!
Phil has been helping me a lot for the past month. I came to him having big problems with my relationships and family’s traumas. He first made me feel that I’m normal and then helped me to figure out how to get over it. I really appreciate the effort. Phil is a good listener who remembers what you told him and also links the events together in order to figure out the best solution for you. Thanks Phil for being there always!
Phil was very easy to talk to and helped me through some of the struggles I was facing at the moment. I was comfortable expressing my challenges and telling him personal issues I was dealing with. He listened and helped me work through my problems. I would recommend Phil and would even reach out to him again myself if needed.
My counsellor Phil was great I really would like to leave him a good review as he helped me a lot in that short time. We agreed I didn't need to continue with therapy, however I believe BetterHelp is a great service and its comforting to know there is a convenient place like this to seek high expertise help.
Phil has written all the books, knows all the theory, has all the techniques... but the very best thing about him is that he is a kind and compassionate human being who genuinely wants the best for those he counsels. He is patient and completely non-judgmental, with a cheerfulness that is infectious even in the darkest hours! I am so very grateful to have been matched with him.
Phil takes a very practical approach to problem solving. I commend him for focusing on how to change unwanted behavior instead of dwelling on the past issues that may have led to the unwanted behavior.
Phil is incredibly responsive and helpful. He reached out to me within 12 hours of being assigned to me as a counselor. Within 5 days, we have already been through two sessions and made progress. I really appreciate all his help and his knowledge in different psychological treatment theories that he kindly shared with me.
Phil is fantastic, he helped me get through some things that had been bothering me for a long time. He is great at helping challenge preconceptions I have and didn't even realize it and look at things in novel ways. Would recommend for anyone trying to get a better handle on life ups and downs!
Counseling with Dr. Phil is a breath of fresh air. He gets right down to teaching skills, which has been very beneficial for me. He has an extensive background and offers insights and suggestions that I have never had other therapist offer, and they work! He's also funny and enjoyable to talk to.
Phil is an insightful counselor. He listens carefully, analyzes the situation and gives substantive suggestions. He asks good questions and helps the client to self discover of course. I would recommend him highly. He also cares a lot.
Phil was a great help when I was in a pretty dark place. I really appreciated his direct manner, honesty and suggestions for positive steps to take to change things for the better. A really good experience all round.
Phil is an extremely experienced and professional counsellor who is a subject matter expert in his field. The author of a successful book 'naked thinking', he can relate to situations and tap into people's thinking patterns and emotional energies and offer great advice in terms of controlling outward behavioral patterns and also insight into the thinking process of his patients. Highly recommend
I felt Dr Phil understood what I needed quickly and got right to the point. He gave me tools and suggested readings that were very helpful and assignments that kept me focused on the goal.
Frequently asked questions
Does Phil D'Agostino offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Phil D'Agostino works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Phil D'Agostino speak?
Phil D'Agostino speaks English.
How many years of experience does Phil D'Agostino have?
Phil D'Agostino has 29 years of experience.
Where is Phil D'Agostino licensed to practice?
Phil D'Agostino is licensed to practice in North Carolina.
Does Phil D'Agostino accept clients outside of the United States?
Yes, Phil D'Agostino accepts clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Phil D'Agostino offer?
Phil D'Agostino offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Phil D'Agostino?
Phil D'Agostino can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Phil D'Agostino?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.