I provide holistic psychological assessments for children and young people with complex special educational needs.

I have extensive experience supporting children and young people aged 0 to 18 with a wide range of additional needs. This includes learning and developmental differences, social communication difficulties, sensory and physical challenges, emotional and mental health needs, and behaviours that can be hard to manage. I work across both mainstream schools and specialist settings, including residential care. 

Assessment, Consultancy & Training
I offer gentle, child-led psychological assessments shaped around each child’s strengths, interests and needs. As an independent Educational Psychologist, I accept private referrals from parents, carers, and schools. I also provide consultation and training to schools, local authorities, and organisations such as the police. For details on the types of support I offer, including pricing, please see the Holistic Support Packages and Fees section below.

Holistic Assessments

My assessments aim to be holistic, rather than overly diagnostic, and are tailored to each child. They look at thinking and learning skills, emotional wellbeing, communication and interaction, and sensory and physical needs. I draw on both my in-depth professional knowledge of psychology and an understanding of each child’s unique personality to build a complete picture of their strengths and challenges. 

Person-Centred Reporting

Reports provided are strengths-based and person-centred, using clear, positive and affirming language. I take care to understand the child’s background and reflect this in my recommendations.  My reports highlight what a child can do, as well as areas where support is needed, and provide practical, realistic recommendations, based on a clear psychological formulation, so that families, schools, and professionals can act on my advice. 

Safe, Ethical Practice

Creating a positive, respectful experience for every child is at the heart of my work and I do my best to make sure the assessment process is as child-friendly as possible. I am committed to ethical, evidence-based practice and follow strict ethical guidelines, always seeking informed consent, and respecting each child’s privacy and dignity. Additionally, I am fully DBS-checked and hold professional indemnity insurance. 

Professional Memberships & Approach

I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) (Practising Certificate Number 133534) and a registered practitioner Educational Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (HCPC Number: PYL21571). I am also a member of the BPS Division of Educational and Child Psychology (Trauma Section) and a registered Jungian Sandplay Therapist with the Association for Sandplay Therapy. 

Parental Referrals

Many of my referrals come via word-of-mouth recommendations, from schools or directly from parents, rather than through self-promotion. 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

Before any involvement, parents or carers will be asked to review and agree to my Terms and Conditions & GDPR Policy and to complete an online Booking Form where they can also share their views. (Please note: a separate contract applies for parents requesting psychotherapy or sandplay therapy.)

An initial free phone or video consultation can be arranged before I begin working with a child or young person. Submitting the Booking Form indicates agreement to the Terms and Conditions.

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/