Children are on a journey; to grow, develop and learn. All children need support along this journey, but for some it can be difficult to unpick exactly what this support should be. Psychology Together believes that by working together to share our thoughts and ideas and reach agreement about the child’s current situation we can travel together in the same direction, supporting children along their journey to grow, develop and learn.
Applying Psychology
A psychologist can help ensure that schools, families and professionals are applying psychology to aid their understanding of any difficulties, using this understanding to develop next steps. Psychology Together uses a model of collaborative child psychology - working with the individuals who know the child well to improve outcomes for them.
Psychology Together facilitates consultations (conversations with a clear aim) in order to:
generate shared understanding amongst those working with the child about their strengths and needs;
consider what may be supporting and hindering the situation;
consider ways of understanding the child's needs;
develop next steps or action plans.
Any next steps agreed will be linked to earlier discussions about understanding of needs. In some cases this problem-solving conversation may be all that is needed for families, schools and professionals to generate a plan for improving the situation.
Psychology Together sees the child at the heart of its work.
In other situations further applied psychology will be needed, such as:
observing the child;
eliciting their views;
working therapeutically with a young person;
completing assessments of their learning.
Psychology Together sees the child at the heart of its work.
Systemic Work
Psychology Together works with schools at a systemic level. This can help schools to understand how changes in their systems can support all students to be included, make progress and achieve positive emotional well-being. Psychology Together tailors work to the needs of individual schools, offering bespoke packages. Support can include a range of training tools to enhance staff development, such as appreciative inquiry and consultation drop-ins for staff.
Having completed the British Psychological Society accredited supervisors' training in 2016, Jessica is skilled in offering both group and individual supervision sessions for staff. Psychology Together believes in the importance of empowering others to work at their most effective, using the qualities, skills and knowledge they already have, as well as further developing these to meet the needs of the situation.
