Jenny Gray

After completing my BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2008 at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh I worked in an independent school for a number of years before continuing my studies in 2014 at Dundee University and completing my postgraduate MSc in Educational Psychology. From there I worked as an Educational Psychologist (EP) for a Scottish local authority until 2022 when I began to focus on independent practice and pursue further training opportunities. I have always been interested and passionate about supporting learners who are struggling in school, especially those who have experienced adversity and trauma. I have significant experience developing and delivering training for schools, with a particular focus on nurturing approaches. More recently, my focus has been on Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, where I have been working with children, adolescents and adults.

As an EP, I work with children and young people to reach solutions to their educational difficulties and achieve positive outcomes. This is achieved through consultation and assessment where I work collaboratively with those who know the child best, as well as the child themselves, to explore and identify individual strengths, areas for development, educational needs and help inform supportive interventions. It is important to take into account how the child’s performance compares to others of a similar age but also how they approach learning tasks and what type and level of mediation makes the most impact on their performance. My assessments are child-centred, holistic and interactive, they consider a range of factors that may be contributing to a learner’s needs. These include emotional & social, cognitive, academic, language/communication, physical/sensory and environmental factors. This helps to provide a full profile of their educational needs. The views of the child, parent/carer, teacher and other professionals are central to this process. I offer one-to-one interventions where I work with the child or young person to try to resolve difficulties related to trauma, emotional regulation, anxiety, self-esteem and social difficulties to name a few. One of the aims of this work is to establish a trustworthy safe space where children can feel listened to, understood and accepted. In describing myself, I would say that fairness, equality, honesty and kindness are at the heart of everything I do. I am HCPC registered and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.