I struggled with addictions to drugs and alcohol from the age of fifteen.

It was then a fifteen year long journey that took me from international drug smuggling and dealing to the park benches of Brixton. Ultimately, it took me to a place where death not only seemed inevitable – it was the only thing I had to look forward to.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the end to my story.

It was a miracle that I ended up in detox and then treatment and, with the help of others and a programme of recovery and counselling, I have been free of my addiction for over almost fifteen years.

I have spent that time working in drug and alcohol services with the street homeless and then, later, managing intervention and recovery services. I qualified as a specialist addiction counsellor and have had a part time Harley Street practice treating addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex and others. My counselling helps those with little money and at the bitter end of their addiction, to those who are high fliers with their career, yet have a problem they cannot control or stop.

I decided to set up Mark Dempster Counselling for one reason only – my counselling works. I have treated countless people through a combination of psychodynamic and cognitive behaviour therapies. In my Harley Street practice, at the heart of the medical profession, I now provide both individual and group counselling as well professional interventions and training services.

At the start of this year I decided to put pen to paper and share my journey. I looked at my childhood – my mother’s love, my father’s alcoholism, the poverty and heavy drinking of sixties and seventies Glasgow. I relived my transition from bit dealer to big time dealer – through drug smuggling, working for international criminals and living in the heart of the underworld drug scene of the eighties and nighties. I told how everything spiralled as my using and drinking became a full time job – from travelling to dangerous places to living amongst the petty criminals and beggars of India and London. How I almost died – again and again and again – yet lived to see that there was a different life for me ahead. This road has been well trodden by others who suffer with addiction. My book explores why.

Please take the time to read about what I do and how I do it on this site. If you think I can help you or somebody else then get in touch. I will be writing regularly on this blog – sharing knowledge and information on addictions and my work. If you want to share your experience or write for my blog get in touch!