Seeing the Whole Child

When parents come to see me, they’re often carrying more than paperwork.

They’re carrying worry.
Late-night Googling.
School emails that sit heavy in the stomach.
A quiet fear that their child is being misunderstood.

Above all, they’re carrying love — and a deep instinct that says, “Something isn’t quite right, and my child needs more support.”

My work begins there.

As a psychologist and psychotherapist, I use the biopsychosocial model, developed by George L. Engel. But at its heart, this approach isn’t about theory. It’s about humanity.

It asks a simple, powerful question:

What might this child be communicating through their struggles?

Understanding, Not Blaming

Children don’t struggle on purpose.

When a child is overwhelmed, anxious, withdrawn, angry, inattentive, or exhausted, there is always a reason. Often, that reason sits at the intersection of:

How their brain processes the world
How they feel inside
And the environments they’re trying to navigate every day

Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with them?” we gently ask, “What has happened, and what do they need?”

This shift changes everything.

Creating a Formulation: Making Sense of the Story

Rather than focusing only on labels or diagnoses, I create a psychological formulation.

This is a thoughtful, compassionate explanation that pulls together the different pieces of your child’s experience. It helps us understand:

Why certain situations feel so hard
Why anxiety might show up as anger
Why school exhaustion can look like defiance
Why a bright child may still be struggling

For many parents, this is the moment things start to make sense. The guilt softens. The self-doubt eases. The story becomes clearer.

Turning Clarity into Advocacy

When families need to advocate for their child — particularly within school systems — I translate this understanding into a professional letter of recommendation.

But these letters are not just documents.

They are carefully written explanations of a child’s inner world. They describe how unmet needs affect learning, friendships, confidence, and wellbeing. They outline what support would make a meaningful difference — and why that support matters.

They help shift the conversation from behaviour to need.
From compliance to capacity.
From “won’t” to “can’t yet.”

Most importantly, they help parents feel less alone in the room.

Walking Alongside You

Advocating for your child can feel daunting. You may have felt unheard before. You may have questioned yourself. You may be tired.

Part of my role is to hold the bigger picture steady — to ensure your child’s needs are described clearly, professionally, and compassionately.

Because children thrive when they are understood.

And parents deserve support, too.

How this works

Gentle, Thoughtful Evaluations to Help You Understand Your Child

When you’re worried about your child, what you often want most is clarity.

As a qualified psychotherapist, psychologist and teacher, I bring together both psychological and educational experience. This allows me to notice not only how a child may be struggling, but also how those struggles might be showing up in a school or learning environment.

My role is not to judge or label.
It is to observe carefully, think deeply, and help you make sense of what might be going on.

What a psychological evaluation looks like

I offer personalised evaluations for children and young people who may be:

Experiencing anxiety
Struggling with sensory sensitivities
Showing signs of developmental differences
Finding school overwhelming
Finding aspects of home life challenging

Sometimes parents have a clear concern.
Sometimes there’s just a quiet feeling that something isn’t quite right.

An evaluation creates space to explore that gently.

Where possible, I aim to offer an appointment within three weeks of first contact, as I understand how hard waiting can feel.

Emotional Safety Comes First

The most important part of any evaluation is that your child feels emotionally safe and supported.

I work in a co-regulated way, meaning I prioritise connection and comfort. If a child needs time to warm up, that is respected. If more than one session is needed for them to feel settled, we move at their pace.

This is not about testing.
It is about understanding.

Evaluations can also help us decide whether therapy would be helpful at this time, or whether another form of support may be more appropriate.

After the Session

The standard evaluation includes:

A 60-minute session with your child or young person
A 30-minute follow-up call with you as parents
A written observation summary

The cost for this is £280.

If further sessions are needed to build comfort and gain a fuller understanding, these are charged at £60 per hour.

From the evaluation and my observations, I can also prepare a Letter of Support (£60 per letter). These letters can be shared with:

Schools
Occupational therapists
GPs
Specialist practitioners
Other professionals involved in your child’s care

These letters translate what I have observed into clear, professional language that helps others understand your child’s needs more fully.

A Gentle Clarification

Evaluations and observation letters are not diagnostic assessments. They are professional psychological observations designed to support understanding, guide next steps, and strengthen communication with other professionals.

For many parents, this process brings reassurance. It offers a grounded, compassionate perspective and helps you feel more confident in advocating for your child.

If you have any questions about evaluations or letters of support, you are very welcome to get in touch. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out — sometimes the first step is simply a conversation.