Maxine Bailey, BACP

Maxine Bailey helps people who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or stuck find clearer ways forward. She writes simple plans with clients and talks through practical steps to improve mood, confidence and motivation. Her approach is direct and compassionate, aimed at making small changes that add up. Maxine has spent 30 years working with people across a wide range of concerns. She supports those facing stress, anxiety and depression, as well as issues around self-esteem, career decisions and coping with life changes. She also works with concerns such as addictions, grief, trauma and intimacy-related difficulties. Her practice includes attention to neurodiversity and developmental differences, including autism and related needs, plus challenges linked to adoption and foster care. Maxine also helps people address obsessive thoughts and compulsions, impulsivity, and difficulties with communication. She pays careful attention to cultural background and identity, including LGBT and multicultural concerns. Maxine is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques suited to each person rather than a single formula. Sessions are shaped around what the client can manage and what outcomes they want to reach. She asks straightforward questions, listens closely, and co-creates a tailored plan. For many people this means a mix of short-term practical strategies and deeper work on long-standing patterns. The focus is on usable skills and steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions that fit daily life

Maxine commonly draws on evidence-based techniques that focus on present difficulties and practical change. One common approach emphasises exploring thoughts and behaviours to identify patterns that keep problems going and then practicing new ways of responding, which can help with anxiety, low mood and obsessive behaviours. Another approach targets skills such as emotion regulation, distress tolerance and communication tools to reduce impulsivity, manage anger and improve relationships. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with clients about their goals and preferences and pick or adapt methods together. This collaborative process means the plan can change as progress is made and new priorities emerge. Online sessions offer several practical benefits. Video calls allow a fuller face-to-face conversation while fitting around work or family schedules. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be a simpler way to check in. Live chat or text-based messaging suits quick reflections, shorter check-ins or people who prefer typing to talking. Together these formats make it easier to build therapy into a busy life and try different ways of working to find what helps most.