Alex Hayes

Alex Hayes is a BACP-registered Addiction Therapist in London, working with adults experiencing addiction and co-occurring mental health difficulties. He is part of the specialist outpatient addictions treatment programme at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, where he contributes to a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to recovery.

Alex has three years’ experience working in structured treatment settings across Cape Town, Belgium, and London. His clinical work is informed by his own lived experience of recovery, which led him to retrain as a therapist to support others facing addiction, trauma, anxiety, and depression in a compassionate and non-judgmental way.

Alex works from a humanistic, person-centred approach, integrating a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques including Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). These are combined with a psychodynamic perspective, helping clients to explore unconscious patterns and emotional processes that may underpin addictive behaviours and ongoing distress.

Within the outpatient addictions programme, Alex supports clients at different stages of recovery, helping them to build stability, insight, and a meaningful life beyond addiction. His therapeutic focus includes reducing shame, strengthening emotional regulation, and supporting sustainable change over time.

Alex has a particular interest in self-compassion, resilience, and trauma-informed therapy. He works collaboratively with clients to help them develop a healthier relationship with themselves and others, fostering greater connection, presence, and engagement in their lives and relationships.

Alex places strong value on the therapeutic relationship, believing that meaningful change occurs through collaboration, trust, and attuned support. He recognises that each client’s journey is unique and works flexibly alongside individuals through the challenges that therapeutic growth can involve.