Dr. Alister Baird

My therapeutic practice as a Clinical Psychologist draws primarily on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). I support adults experiencing a variety of difficulties, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, and neurodivergence. My aims include facilitating improvements to the quality of people’s relationships, reducing work stress, increasing capacity to tolerate difficult emotions, and adjusting to physical health conditions.

I aim to create a therapeutic space which is collaborative and compassionate, developing trust which fosters openness and confidence. This is the foundation for us to develop new ways to understand your experiences and implement practical techniques to help you live aligned with your goals and what’s important to you. I believe therapy is most helpful when it is tailored to the individual. I am passionate about adapting psychological approaches to suit different communication styles, cognitive profiles and ways of experiencing the world, making sure therapy is effective for people from any background.

During my doctoral clinical psychology training, I worked across national specialist services including the Maudsley National Specialist OCD and BDD Service for children and young people, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Services, the National ADHD and Autism Psychology Service, and the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT).

Prior to my clinical work, I completed a PhD in Environmental Psychology at University College London, where my research examined the relationship between physical environments, neurodevelopment and mental health.

My work has included contributing to the development of a CBT-based mental health application, and research at King’s College London exploring virtual reality interventions for psychosis, anhedonia, and adapting therapy for autistic adults. This work has strengthened my interest in developing psychological care that is innovative while remaining grounded in evidence and the experiences of the people it is designed to support.

Ultimately, I aim to provide a space in which people feel understood and able to make sense of their experiences, while working together towards meaningful and achievable change