Bill Baker Counsellor & Psychotherapist
A big "Thank You" to all my clients over the years. I feel that I have learnt from all and in many cases been inspired by you. Thank you for using my services. I shall enjoy my retirement but undoubtedly will miss you.
Go well.Stay well!
Welcome
I am a counsellor in Central London and in Dorking, Surrey.
Counselling is totally confidential - whatever you bring to the counselling room stays in it. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I am empathic, non-judgmental, with a deep respect for each and every client.
I bring to counselling and psychotherapy my commitment - honed over many years of practice to be the catalyst to help and support clients to work through the problems they bring.
My intention is to provide a safe, confidential and creative environment in which we work together to clear the way to new understandings and beginnings for you.
Bill Baker
Counsellor Central London and Dorking, Surrey
B.Sc. MA
Member BACP (Accredited), Member AHPP, Senior Associate RSM (Royal Society of Medicine)
Our deepest fear
This poem was quoted by Nelson Mandela when he became President of South Africa after a lifetime of struggle and incarceration under the vicious apartheid regime of that country. Here is an excerpt go to my Inspirations page for the full version...
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Begin it now
Until one is committed there is hesitancy:
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all aspects of initiative and creation
there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which
kills countless ideas and and splendid plans;
That the moment one definitely commits oneself
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
That would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision
raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen
incidents and meetings and material assistance
which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
Whatever you do or dream you can,
begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Begin it now.
This poem is an inspired recognition of the power of intention and action by the great German writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832). Goethe is widely considered to be one of the most important thinkers in Western culture and the key figure in German literature and thought in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The thought that things fall in to place around determined intention links in with Carl Jung’s theory of 'synchronicity' – of apparent coincidences happening in a serenditpitous mannner; although perhaps perception is also involved here in seeing opportunity which would have gone unnoticed if the intention had not been present.
Why see a counsellor?
It's so easy to carry problems and issues. Like leaches they cling to us, become part of us and we often don't realise how much of a burden they have become. It is like carrying a heavy weight is the old expression and it is true. Our problems weigh us down, get under our skin, do our head in and make us feel like retreating from the world and going under the bed clothes. Often clients say to me that their head is spinning from the noise, the chatter of competing worries, thoughts and arguments raging inside. No wonder many complain of a headache!
Life does not have to be like this and we are able to do something about it to liberate ourselves and counselling is a high road to that liberation. In the confidentiality of the counselling room, with a skilled listener and facilitator which is what a counsellor is trained to do, you can begin to unload those concerns. Then you can start to examine them and begin to understand them...
Choosing your counsellor
So you've decided you need to see a counsellor but how on earth do you find the right one? There are some straight forward practical issues of accessibility to where you are, where you live or where you work. Then having defined the area or areas you want to look in, Google can do the rest both in bringing up individual counsellors and in bringing up the directory websites such as the BACP's http://www.itsgoodtotalk, Counselling Directory, rsccp or the Natural Health directory etc.
You may feel you would rather have a male or female therapist or indeed one that specialises in gay, lesbian or transgender clients, younger , older etc. That has to be entirely up to you. If that's what you feel, follow that feeling in the choices you make. It's your therapist you are choosing and you may be working with him or her for some considerable time.
Whichever way you trawl the net, you will end up looking at individual psychotherapist's web sites. Then how do you choose the one?
Gut feeling. There will be details of qualifications etc all worth scanning through. However, the basis for successful counselling is what is termed the "therapeutic relationship" between client and therapist. If you instinctively feel you can trust, be at ease and can work with this therapist then that's the right person for you.
Most therapists offer an initial appointment, as I do, so you can experience working together. You may wish to have more than one initial appointment and then make a decision but in my experience, if the initial appointment with the therapist of choice works well, then I suspect most people decide to go that route.
If it feels right then research underscores that whatever the therapists modality, the the therapy is likely to be beneficial. If you don't feel comfortable - not a chance. Look again. The counselling room is where you want to be able to share your innermost thoughts and be comfortable with that. Trust is basic. The therapeutic process is built on that.
I aim to give clients the tools and understanding to transform their state of ‘dis-ease’ into a state of feeling good or even great - and at least OK. Many clients do have a real sense of lightness when they have lost the weight of their worry.
Latest Client Appreciations
More client testimonials
I first met with Bill 8 years ago and decided to visit him again recently as I embarked on a new phase of my life. There was nothing specifically “wrong” and I was sceptical I would benefit in the same way I did 8 years ago. I was mistaken! Counselling is not just for times of crisis; the clarity, perspective and cathartic value is always available!."
More client testimonials
Counselling in Central London
13 John Prince's Street
London
W1G 0JR
Appointment in London Thursdays 11.30am - 6pm
Ground Floor Counselling Room
I counsel in London in a comfortable counselling room a step away from Oxford Circus on - Thursdays. My counselling room is on the ground floor so no steps.
Reception is inside the front door but please arrive at your appointment time and I will buzz you straight through to my room.
Counselling Dorking
My Dorking Counselling and Psychotherapy practice is situated close to Dorking High Street and a fifteen-minute walk from Dorking Rail station. Free client parking is available. Dorking is easily accessible from Reigate, Leatherhead, Horsham and Guildford and the villages around such as Buckland, Brockham, Westcott, Box Hill and Mickleham, Abinger Hammer, Gomshall and Shere.
Email me or call Dorking Counselling: 07816 768470
Bill Baker Counsellor & Psychotherapist in the Harley Street medical district in Central London and in Dorking in Surrey
- Bill Baker's counselling and psychotherapy practice was established in Harley Street, Central London in the heart of Harley Street medical area well-known internationally. Bill has continued to practice as a counsellor and psychotherapist in the Harley Street medical district. Harley Street psychotherapy and counselling was only one of two locations and Bill also established a practice in Dorking, Surrey. Today Bill continues as a psychotherapist/counsellor in Dorking, Surrey serving residents and commuters in the Leatherhead, Dorking and Mole Valley area. Bill's Surrey clients also come from the Reigate, Horsham and the Sussex/Surrey borders. Bill's Surrey Practice is in Dorking, near Dorking Hospital, and 10 minutes from Dorking High St and a 15 minute walk from Dorking Rail stations. Email meDorking is in Mole Valley – off the M25 J10 through Leatherhead and Mickleham and easily accessible via the A24. There is client parking. Locally the Bill Baker Counselling and Psychotherapy in Dorking serves all Mole Valley including the nearby towns of Reigate, Epsom, Horsham and Guildford and the surrounding villages of Betchworth, Brockham, Bookham, Fetcham and Ashtead. Bill's counselling and psychotherapy practice in London was in Wimpole Street for some years and before that in Weymouth Street near the London Clinic. Bill's psychotherapy and counselling practice is now located near Harley Street, off Cavendish Square at 13 John Prince's Street, Cavendish Square, London W1G 0JR - conveniently only a 2 minutes from Oxford Circus Underground Station and Oxford Street and Regent Street,. It is just along from John Lewis, making it very accessible from anywhere in central London. Bill has also developed a global counselling and psychotherapy practice through Skype building on his Harley Street psychotherapy practice, serving UK expats in several locations such as Dubai, Hong Kong and Macau in China as well as being available to international clients worldwide.
