About AChiPPP
AChiPPP is a Not for Profit support group for psychologists who are already working independently with children and young people to age 25 years.
AChiPPP provides:
- a network and support so we do not have to ‘go it alone’ in private practice
- a forum for professional discussion
- an opportunity to speak with a collective voice about issues that matter to us as professionals
- the chance to help shape the future of our profession
Our Story
The Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice (AChiPPP) was founded by Terri Hall and Denise Thornton to draw together and encourage committed practitioners who have a vision for the future of Child Psychology.
AChiPPP grew out of regular professional meetings and discussions between child psychologists from different disciplines. That initial group included Terri Hall, Denise Thornton Ruth Birnbaum, Peter Rankin, Jonathan Reed and Jennifer Stockley.
AChiPPP continues to:
- depend on the support of its members for its growth and survival
- encourage and support members to share their knowledge and expertise
- provide professional development input for each other
- provide supervision and mentoring
- take part in special interest groups
- represent our professional interests in other forums e.g. SASC, JCQ etc to ensure that child psychologists working in private practice have a ‘voice’
AChiPPP aims to:
AChiPPP is a Not for Profit organisation funded by membership fees and income
from training and events. We are run by volunteers to benefit our members and
operate as an unincorporated association. We have a constitution to help our group
run smoothly and aour group can change and adapt as required to meet the needs
of our members. As an unincorporated association we are not registered with the
charity Commission or Companies House as we are a membership organisation with
clear membership criteria.
AChiPPP Membership
Membership is open to:
- HCPC registered psychologist already working privately (at least 30% of their working week) with children and young people to the age of 25 years
- Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Neuropsychologists, Counselling Psychologists etc.
Meet the Team
Our organisation is supported by a dedicated group of psychologists who guide its development and direction. Meet the founders, steering committee and representatives who help shape the work we do.
Founder Members
Terri Hall
Founder & Lifetime President
As a semi-retired Child and Educational Psychologist and Child Neuropsychologist, Terri now works together with parents to explore ways to support their child -often with a neurodiverse profile- and the family with situations at home and/or school. For Terri it has been a great privilege to be involved with AChiPPP from its first beginnings.
Denise Thornton
Founder & Steering Group Member
Denise Thornton worked as an Educational Psychologist in Local Authorities and private practice before training as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in 2005 and updated this with a Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychology in 2013. More recently Denise has working mainly as an Expert Witness for Medico-legal, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury cases as well as SENDIST Appeals. She has provided extensive training for teachers, teaching assistants, trainee educational psychologists and was an Honorary Associate with the Research Dept of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at UCL until 2026.
Steering Group
Lynne Hipkin
Lynne has over 25 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, 20 of those in private practice, and was among the first members of AChiPPP. She has served for a number of years on the Steering Group and has organised many training events for members. Since working as a clinical tutor at UCL in the 1990s she has maintained a strong interest in supporting fellow psychologists and was part of the founding committee for the BPS Independent Practitioners Group. Lynne has a general clinical practice in Surrey, supervises other psychologists and works with a domestic abuse service providing children’s counselling and staff supervision.
Florence Charles
Steering Group Member & Representative
Dr Flo Charles is an Educational Psychologist in private practice with over 10 years experience. Originally training as a teacher before qualifying as an Educational Psychologist, she has worked in both local authority and independent practice. Flo has particular expertise in child neuropsychological assessment and works with children and young people with a range of learning, neurodevelopmental and emotional needs. Her work includes assessment, consultation, rehabilitation, supervision and expert witness work. She has extensive knowledge of statutory processes and is particularly interested in supporting children, families and professionals to understand complex needs and identify the provision that will best support progress and wellbeing.
Jude Joughin
Dr Jude Joughin is an HCPC-registered Educational Psychologist with over 15 years’ experience. She previously worked within local authorities and went on to lead a multi-agency team across a group of academies, supporting schools to develop inclusive practice and respond to a wide range of additional needs. Jude established her independent practice in 2017 and now undertakes educational psychology assessment, consultation and intervention planning for children and young people with complex learning, communication and social-emotional profiles. She has extensive experience contributing to EHCP processes and medico-legal work, and regularly presents at legal conferences on topics related to educational psychology.
Denise Thornton
Founder & Steering Group Member
Denise Thornton worked as an Educational Psychologist in Local Authorities and private practice before training as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in 2005 and updated this with a Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychology in 2013. More recently Denise has working mainly as an Expert Witness for Medico-legal, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury cases as well as SENDIST Appeals. She has provided extensive training for teachers, teaching assistants, trainee educational psychologists and was an Honorary Associate with the Research Dept of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at UCL until 2026.
SpLD SIG Representatives
Catriona Hassall
Catriona Hassall is a highly experienced Educational Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience. She began her career working within local authority services and moved into private practice more than 15 years ago. She works extensively with neurodivergent children and young people, specialising in autism, ADHD and associated learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Catriona is both ADOS- and ADI-R-trained and has worked as part of multidisciplinary teams, contributing to diagnostic assessments. She has significant experience acting as an expert witness in EHCP and tribunal cases.
Alice Voute
Alice Voute is an educational psychologist with 13 years experience of working in private practice. She has a particular interest in understanding and supporting learners with literacy and maths difficulties.
Caro Strover-Green
Caro Strover-Green, an experienced Educational Psychologist for over 20 years, was previously a specialist SpLD teacher and mainstream teacher. She is passionate about enabling learning, to support children/young people get the most out of their education, to enable them to develop the skills and interests that will support them for a fulfilled and contributing adult life. ‘Enabling Learning for Everyone’ is her mantra!
Dr Anita Jackson
Dr Anita Jackson has worked in private practice for the last 30 years having originally been a primary school teacher in London before going on for further training as an Educational Psychologist. She started with the Dyslexia Institute, specialising in the assessment of specific learning difficulties, and has had her own practice since the early 2000s. She mainly works with children in mainstream school, providing assessments and advice for barriers to learning. She also tutors on an Access Arrangements course and provides access arrangements assessments.
Role of Honour Notice
AChiPPP thanks the following members for contributing information to the Parents area of the website:
- Mike Hymans – Parents Guide to visiting Special Schools
- Dilanthi Weerasinghe – The role of EPs – explanation for parents