Mark Bailey
Registered Psychotherapist
Personalised, comprehensive & compassionate therapy in central London & online
How can I help you?
Nearly all of us will suffer with psychological problems at one time or another and there are many, many reasons why. Whatever you're feeling there is no need to suffer on your own. Symptoms like anxiety are are understandable human responses to difficulties and disruptions in our lives. Constructive and well-timed therapy can aid recovery and encourage change in profound ways. We are more than our stories and circumstances.
"There is something worse than being sad: being alone and being sad"
Ted Lasso
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Sometimes life is confusing, overwhelming or painful.
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Sometimes we need to talk about the things which bother or overwhelm us
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Sometimes we need to make sense of ourselves and our lives.
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Sometimes we want to get more from life.
Therapy is about healing, recovery and change. My job is to help you find your own way of navigating through emotional and psychological difficulties with skill, empathy and kindness and to help you develop your own psychological resources. Often our greatest life hurdles can prove to be (in the longer term at least) a turning point to something better in the future. We all sometimes need help with this.
You may have more than one ongoing concern - so we can prioritise how we help you. I tend to work on a brief basis with clients but there is no set rule as your needs are specific to you. However I think it always helpful to have the outcome that you want in both our minds so your therapy is focussed and potent.
Specific problems I help people with...
ADHD management
Adjustment to major life events
Anxiety
Anger
Assertiveness
Behavioural change
Bereavement
Burnout
Celebrity/Media pressures
Depression
Grief
Interpersonal issues
LGBTQ orientated therapy
Narcissistic/Psychological abuse
Panic attacks/Disorder
Rape and sexual assault
Self-esteem and self-worth
Shame
Sleep problems
Social Anxiety
Stress management and reduction
PTSD & trauma recovery
Workplace bullying recovery
My clinical experience
Whether you come to me through referral or recommendation I want the best for you right from the start and clinical research says time and time again the "therapeutic relationship" is the single most important factor in outcomes - far and above the methods used. So finding someone you trust enough and work well with is a priority. So I always suggest at the end of the first session we both make a decision on working together and we will also check-in at regular intervals to ensure you get the best experience.
I am a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and have been in Clinical Practice since 2001. I hold Post-Graduate qualifications in Psychotherapy and Psychopathology. My further training encompasses NLP, CBT, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Person-centred and Integrative approaches and I hold British Psychological Society approved training for PTSD , Anxiety, Occupational Burnout, Depression, Panic, Social Anxiety and different types of OCD. I have specific training in recovery from Narcissistic abuse and workplace bullying. I trained at Oxford University's Mindfulness Centre. I am down to earth, pragmatic and passionate that therapy is a collaborative process - my job is to enable you to find your own individual, specific answers to your problems. Clients tell me I am warm and easy to talk to and offer different ways of looking at problems.
With a continuing interest in working with those suffering from professional burnout I also work with healthcare workers facing mental health challenges from their work. I have delivered mental health seminars for The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association and presented at The Royal College of Surgeons and NHS England. I also train other therapists in CBT and NLP within Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. I also work as a facilitator and trainer helping people challenge inappropriate behaviour in industry, universities and in the NHS.
I also work with people who are in the public eye. Facing the intrusions and scrutiny of the media and public can have a profound impact. With a background in entertainment and media I know the effects this can have on functioning and what can help people deal with it better.
I see clients both in person and online and welcome clients from the UK and worldwide. I have a safe, quiet and confidential consulting room Regents Street, London, W1 and accept both private clients, referrals from GP's and healthcare providers including AXA, Aviva, Cigna and WPA.
Adaptation and change are always possible
I employ a variety of approaches to help clients overcome their hurdles and enjoy the kind of life they would prefer. I integrate different methods including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Neurolinguistic Therapy, Compassionate Focussed therapy and Mindfulness. My clinical experience of more than 22 years has taught me that theory is helpful but what happens in successful therapy should not be dictated by it. Although some methods suit some problems better than others no specific therapeutic model has all the answers. So I tailor how I work to suit each and every person I work with in a collaborative way.
Most importantly good therapy is a collaborative alliance for your benefit. So I work with clients how I would want a therapist to work with me: I am down to earth, approachable, supportive, empathic, human, non-shaming, kindly challenging and always with a focus on helping you create meaningful change. Therapy is also about what both people bring to it - our energy, humanity, openness and vulnerability. And I have seen truly wonderful changes in clients over the years - even when they felt great frustration and little hope. Therapy is sometimes uncomfortable, it's not always easy but it can certainly be worthwhile and sometimes profoundly transformative to our lives.