Meet the others
Mark Baddeley - Psychologist/Coach/Counsellor
To be a highly effective Psychologist requires a combination of life-experience, wisdom, high-level study and great communication skill combined with sensitivity. Mark started out as a teacher and linguist and has since spent his life as a counsellor in a variety of clinical private practices.
Mark now uses the latest information in the mind-body sciences and brain sciences to help his clients. He has particular experience in coaching clients to achieve specific outcomes, assisting individuals to overcome a range of troubles and Employer Assisted Progammes with Corporate clients.
Where do you come from/ where did you grow up?
I grew up in Petersham, Sydney and spent many hours as a kid playing around Leichhardt Bay with my cousins.
I first became a teacher and had involvement in teacher training and acting as a language teaching consultant. After years of part-time study I became a psychologist in Private practice and now have extensive experience in Employee Assistance Programmes and a wide range of counselling approaches.
What were your interests growing up?
Studying and reading, gardening-I loved growing vegetables, riding my bike.
What got you into the health industry?
I was introduced to psychology doing a B.A. in education. I became so fascinated that I switched to a major in psychology and linguistics and of course also wanting to resolve my own problems. To that end I have attended many workshops of different kinds to promote my own healing.
How would you define optimal health and lifestyle/what is your philosophy?
Optimal health and lifestyle comes from being able to achieve states of deep relaxation. The mind –body system is then able to function at its best so that the body can be healthy and the mind function flexibly and efficiently.
What do you try to achieve with your clients/patients?
When appropriate I try to help my clients achieve states of deep relaxation. Once a state of deep relaxation is achieved many stress related issues whether physical or mental or even relationship based ones more easily resolve. There is a definite place for talking issues through and externalising people’s concerns.
I also believe in the synergistic effect of combining therapies to promote wellness and peak performance.
What do you specialise in/ Focus on?
My focus is the client. I am client centred. I give space for the client to say all that needs to be said and then help the client to articulate their goals. I outline approaches that could help with those goals and work with those that appeal to the client.
Qualifications/Education: (please include where you obtained qualifications)
B.A. Macquarie University
M.A. Sydney University
Industry Association Member:
Australian Psychological Society
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Society of Applied Neuroscience.
What makes you different from other practitioners in your field?
I have a wide range of training across a lot of different psychological approaches. I am very interested in alternative therapies and have worked collaboratively in an alternative therapy setting. I have worked in GP clinics and so have respect for the medical model.
What makes you an expert?
The most important aspect of the field is being able to help people. I am driven to personalise and individualise what I do. I constantly critique my own practice and the outcomes for my clients.
What are your interests now/ are you married/ do you have children?
My current interests are new developments in the field of psychology particularly those drawn from the brain sciences. I am interested in tai chi, meditation, working out in the gym and those rare times when I can go kayaking. I am married with two adult children.
What are your proudest achievements/career highlights?
- Working for the Tasmanian Emergency Services Debriefing Team
- Being a past assistant editor for the Australian Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy
- Being a past President of the Australian Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Anything else that may be good to share with the world?
We are in it together.
