About me
Hello there, I'm Mark...I'm a Chartered Psychologist, BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural & Compassion Focused Psychotherapist, and I also practice EMDR. I am based in Portadown, Co. Armagh. I hold a BSc(hons), MSc & PhD in Psychology and have spent my career working across NHS mental health, staff wellbeing, inpatient services, and occupational psychology along with lecturing.
I'm also easy to talk to, and genuinely invested in the people I work with — so if you're looking for someone with serious qualifications who doesn't feel clinical and distant, that's what I aim to be. I focus on compassionate care & genuine presence.
Are you struggling with something that's affecting your work, your relationships, or your sense of yourself?
This might look like:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, or constant worry
- Depression, low mood, or loss of motivation,
- Burnout — exhaustion that rest doesn't fix,
- Trauma or PTSD, including work-related trauma;
- Intense self-criticism or low self-esteem
- Stress that's crossing over from work into every part of your life
Whatever brought you here, you don't have to have it neatly labelled or fully figured out. My job is to help you make sense of what's happening and find practical, evidence-based ways forward.
How I work
I use an integrated approach drawing on three evidence-based frameworks:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — BABCP fully accredited. Practical, structured, and effective for anxiety, depression, OCD, health anxiety, and panic.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) — Level 7 Diploma from the Compassionate Mind Foundation. Particularly effective where intense self-criticism, shame, or burnout are central to the picture.
EMDR — for trauma and PTSD, including single-incident trauma, complex trauma, and work-related traumatic experiences.
I personalise treatment to your presentation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol — and I'll be honest with you about what's likely to help and what isn't.
Workplace mental health — my specialist area (but not my only focus)
I provide psychological support for individuals and organisations navigating workplace mental health challenges. This includes psychological therapy for work-related stress, burnout, moral injury, and occupational trauma; return-to-work psychological assessments and reports; workshops and training for teams and organisations; trauma-informed debriefing; and consultation with HR, Occupational Health, and management.
I work with individuals across all sectors, and with organisations including healthcare, public services, manufacturing, agriculture, and education. Not every workplace is an office — and I understand that.
However, I do not limit my referrals to workplace difficulties alone and work with a wide range of difficulties.
Practical information
I offer face-to-face appointments at my therapy suite at Morrison House, 107 Church Street, Portadown, BT62 3DD, and online via video for clients across Northern Ireland and further afield.
I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to check suitability — and if I'm not the right person for you, I'll point you toward someone who is.
I aim to respond to all enquiries within a few hours on working days.
For workshops, or employer/ organisational enquiries, visit: www.wellbalancedminds.co.uk for further information or email info@wellbalancedminds.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
- BSc (Hons) Psychology - Ulster University, Magee
- MSc Applied Psychology (mental health) - Ulster University, Magee
- PhD Psychology - Ulster University, Magee
- PCTLHE (Teaching qualification) - Solent University
- PG Dip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Advanced level) - University of Southampton
- Certificate in Complex Trauma and Childhood Abuse (National Counselling Society)
- Certificate in Mindfulness and Compassion (Mindfulness UK)
- PG Dip (Level 7) in Compassion Focused Therapy (Compassionate Mind Foundation & BPS Approved)
- DBT Training (British Isles)
- EMDR Parts 1 & 2 (QUB: Teaching Completed & moving towards accreditation)
- Schema Therapy (QUB: All Teaching components completed)
Further Specialised CFT CPD Training:
- CFT for Complex Trauma
- CFT for Chronic Pain & Complex Medical Issues
- CFT & Compassionate Leadership
- CFT for Staff Support
- CFT & EMDR Integration
- CFT Supervisor Training (Completed by May, 2026)
Experience:
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Solent University, Southampton): November, 2014-January 2021).
- Talking Change (IAPT Service, Portsmouth: Sept, 2016-2018)
- Occupational Health Service (Belfast HSCT): Psychotherapist (January, 2021- Oct, 2023).
- Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre (AMHIC): Specialist Psychotherapist (Oct,2023- June, 2024).
- Staff Wellbeing Psychology Service (Belfast HSCT): Specialist Psychotherapist (June, 2024- April, 2026)
- Regional HIV Psychology Service: Specialist Psychotherapist (April, 2025- April, 2026)
- April (2026): Well Balanced Minds ltd - Specialist Centre for Workplace Psychological Support (Director)
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Chronic Pain/CFS
I have worked with individuals suffering with eating disorder related difficulties, however it is not a speciality. Similarly, I have worked with individuals suffering with psychosis and EUPD related difficulties.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£80.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£80 per session (self funding) or £100 for insurance/employer based work.
£100 for one off assessment & £140 for Assessment and report (self funding)
£120 for one off assessment & £160 for Assessment and report (Insurance/Employer work)
Please note, this is not a diagnoses service
When I work
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Further information
Getting the Right Level of Support
Not everyone who reaches out needs long-term therapy — and I'll always be honest with you about what I think is likely to help.
I work within a stepped care approach, which means matching the level of support to what's actually needed rather than applying the same response to every difficulty. In practice this means:
Some people benefit most from a single assessment session — gaining clarity on what's happening and a clear set of recommendations to take forward themselves or with their GP.
Others need a focused, time-limited course of therapy — typically 6 to 12 sessions working on a specific difficulty.
Some presentations benefit from longer-term or more intensive work — where difficulties are complex, longstanding, or involve multiple areas of life
At our initial assessment, I'll give you an honest picture of where I think you sit, how long I'd expect therapy to take, and whether I'm the right person to help or whether a different service or level of care would serve you better.
If I'm not the right fit — whether that's due to the nature of your difficulty, the level of complexity, or simply a matter of personal preference — I'll do my best to point you in the right direction rather than leave you without options.
My aim is always the right support, not just any support.
