I provide psychological assessments, bespoke to the child or young person.

I specialise in working with complex cases and have worked with children & young people from the ages of 0 - 18 with a variety of additional needs, including difficulties with learning and development, social communication needs, sensory and physical difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs and challenging behaviours, in both mainstream educational and specialist school or residential care settings.

Assessment, Consultancy & Training

As an independent EP, I take private educational psychology referrals for specialist, complex needs assessments with children and young people from both parents and schools. I also provide consultancy and training to schools, the Local Authority, and other organisations such as the police. For more information, please see my holistic packages of support and fees below.  

Holistic Assessment

I aim to provide a bespoke, holistic assessment which examines cognition and learning skills, as well as social or emotional aspects. My practice is evidence-based, with conclusions grounded not only in my specialist knowledge of child psychology, but also on the unique personality of the child or young person. I prioritise practical and specific recommendations that can be realistically implemented by schools, families, and professionals. 

Child-Centred & Strengths-Based

My reports are child-centred and strengths-based, highlighting each child's abilities, while addressing areas of need. I also aim to use collaborative, solution-focused approaches when working with children, families and schools. I strive to use clear and accessible language, avoiding jargon, and ensuring my findings and recommendations are easily understood by all involved.

Memberships

As a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered practitioner Educational Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), I adhere to professional standards set by the BPS and HCPC, while continually developing my practice through reflection and professional growth. I am also a member of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP) Trauma section and work as a Registered Jungian Sandplay Therapist (STR) with the Association for Sandplay Therapy (AST). 

Safety, Ethics & Confidentiality

Ethics and confidentiality are key; I ensure informed consent and uphold the child’s privacy while maintaining a non-judgmental stance. I am mindful of the child’s context, respecting cultural and socio-economic factors and reflecting these in my recommendations. I am fully DBS checked and have professional indemnity insurance.

Parental Referrals

Many of my referrals come via word-of-mouth recommendations, from schools or directly from parents, and I do my utmost to ensure that the children I work with find the assessment experience as positive and enjoyable as possible. Often the referrals I receive are from parents who believe their child has a difficulty that has not been ‘picked up’ via their school (for example, if they mask their needs), or where additional evidence is required to contribute towards the EHCP process.

Working in Partnership with Local Schools

If your child is in school and you have any concerns about their development, please talk to the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) in the first instance and ensure you have been through the Gloucestershire graduated pathway with your child’s school, before you request a referral. Your child’s school may already be buying into a Local Authority Educational Psychology Service and wish to use their designated LA EP, rather than fund a parental requested EP assessment.

Process of Involvement

Prior to any involvement, parents / carers will be asked to read the Parental Booking Information Form & GDPR Policy and complete an online Booking Form, where they can provide their views. (There is a different Parental Booking Information Form for parents requesting psychotherapy / sandplay therapy). An initial free phone call or video consultation can be set up prior to me working with the child or young person. 

Diagnostic Work

An Educational Psychologist (EP) can assess and screen for difficulties with attention and social communication and contribute towards a referral to a health professional, however, ADHD and Autism are medical diagnoses and as such require a health professional to diagnose. I carry out assessments that contribute to the EHCP process, however my reports address psychological, cognitive, learning and educational questions, and not medico-legal questions. As such, I do not attend tribunals.

For more information about what an Educational Psychologist does, please refer to the following page: 

https://edpsy.org.uk/about/educational-psychology/