Mark Baxter (he/him)

Director & Principal Psychologist

Age group: Adults (23+)

I’ve been practicing as a psychologist for over two decades and have always found a lot of meaning in work. I really enjoy listening to people and seeking to understand their inner world, experience and perspective. Seeing people transform to find more ease and freedom is very rewarding.

My main focus is on helping people recover from traumatic events or adverse life experiences. These might include events in adulthood or childhood, PTSD, complex PTSD, childhood emotional neglect or other early relational and attachment difficulties. These experiences can affect the way a person perceives themselves, their beliefs about the world, behaviour patterns, relationships and work. These experiences can adversely affect mental health, the nervous system and physical health. Other mental health problems like depression, anxiety, anger, dissociation, addictions and compulsions can also be common.

I engage with people in a collaborative, accepting, compassionate and non-judging spirit. This is combined with training in specific therapies that help people make positive change; and that promote effective stabilisation, self-understanding, somatic awareness, emotional processing, personal growth and re-connection. These include:

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Attachment-informed EMDR

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI)

I also have extensive training in teaching mindfulness meditation to help people understand their own mind, transform stress and suffering, increase self-awareness and improve relationships. Mindfulness meditation is an important habit that can strengthen and support other areas of life. Personalised coaching can help people overcome barriers to practice, or to find new and helpful ways to engage in mindful living. I am trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness.

I’m a Board Approved Clinical Supervisor and supporting other psychologists, therapists, leaders and mental health practitioners is one of the most enjoyable parts of my work. Click here for more information about my clinical supervision.

Over the past 6 years, I have also been studying psychedelic-assisted therapies and have completed the Certificate of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies (CPAT) as well as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) MDMA-assisted therapy training. I am co-chair of the Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy Interest Group at the Australia Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) and facilitate educational webinars for members. I am also a member and certified provisional therapist with the Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Therapists (AMAPP).

In addition to my work at The Psychology Spot, I am currently working as a therapist with Evolution Medicine Enhanced Therapy based at Northern Beaches Hospital - https://www.evolutionmet.com/

I also help people with recovery from extended post-psychedelic difficulties and challenging experiences.