Francis Merson GDP, BA Hons, MCP, APS, BPS
I am a British-Australian psychologist and the founder of the Paris Psychology Centre. My training in psychology allows me to treat a wide variety of problems, including a broad range of mental disorders. My work draws both on my training as a clinical psychologist and my own life experience, including many years of living as an expat. I use a range of evidence-based treatments, which have been scientifically validated to improve emotional wellbeing and resilience. This means that you can be confident that your time spent in therapy will be worthwhile.
​
The heart of my practice is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the gold-standard treatment for the most common psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. I also have specialist training in other proven modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and mindfulness-based approaches.
I graduated with the University Medal in Psychology from the University of Sydney, and received a further Masters of Clinical Psychology from the University of Technology Sydney. I have worked as a clinician at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic of St Vincent's Hospital, at the Centre for Mental Health at Concord Hospital, both in Sydney, and in a range of private settings. I am a registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and a fellow in Abnormal Psychology at the University of Sydney. I am a member of the Australian Psychology Society and the British Psychology Society. I was awarded the Australian Psychology Society Prize in 2015.
​
Before becoming a psychologist, I worked for more than a decade as a writer and magazine editor. In various high-powered publishing companies around the world, I got first-hand experience of the toll that stress can take on ordinary people. I saw people around me besieged with worry, overwork and negativity. I became interested in questions of why some people flourish, and some flounder. I also began to wonder if there was a better way of being happy in the modern world and became increasingly certain that a life of service to others was the most meaningful. This took me down the path of exploring psychology – and I've never looked back.
​
I have experience leading people out of anxiety, depression, self-doubt, relationship problems, work and family issues… It's also sometimes the case that my clients don't even know exactly what's wrong – they just feel bad, or like they've lost their way. A crucial part of therapy is gaining insight and clarity, as a first step to feeling right and getting back on track. I'm passionate about helping people, and make a commitment to providing clients with the tools they need to achieve long-lasting emotional balance, wellbeing and happiness.
​
Outside of therapy, I write about psychology and matters of the mind for various academic and popular journals, lecture at the Universities of Amsterdam and Sydney, and do talks and workshops about wellbeing for organisations.
​
You can contact me at: francis@parispsychologycentre.com
​