Parents Information Area
If you’ve already checked the members directory and still need help finding a psychologist with availability, download and complete our Help Request Form so we can share your enquiry with suitable members.
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What kind of Child Psychologist do you need?
- Help children and young people who are experiencing mental and or emotional distress for whatever reason and may also work with their families
- Focus on helping children and young people to cope better with the strains and stresses they experience in their daily lives, their families, their social relationships
- Have to be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and are their work is regulated by HCPC
- Deal with a wide range of difficulties and may specialise in particular areas such as addiction, anger, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relationship problems, self-harming, trauma etc
- May be part of a multiprofessional team and be involved in diagnosis of difficulties such as Autism, ADHD, mental health difficulties etc.
- Work with children and young people who have learning difficulties, social, emotional, behavioural and complex developmental problems to promote inclusion and positive educational outcomes
- May work directly with children and young people, their teachers, teaching assistants, other professionals, schools, colleges and families
- Determine the best approaches and interventions to improve learning, behaviour, independence, social relationship skills, academic progress and educational outcomes
- Must be registered with HCPC and are regulated by them
- Focus on how children and young people relate to others, think, behave and respond because of their experiences and how this is affecting their ability to cope with daily life
- Consider the context of the child and young person’s experiences in terms of their social, emotional, cultural, economic and physical circumstances to help understand why they are struggling psychologically
- Will work with a wide range of mental health difficulties including depression, eating disorders. personality and social disorders, trauma, bereavement, domestic violence, sexual, emotional and physical abuse
- May work directly with children and young people and their families, groups, schools and community organisations
- Have experienced personal therapy to help them develop a deeper understanding of feelings . emotional and psychological responses
- Must be registered with HCPC and are regulated by them.
- Specialise in the link between brain and behaviour
- Use their knowledge to work out how illnesses or injury have affected the brains functioning and caused changes in behaviour, mental health, responsiveness, memory, executive functioning etc.
- Find the most effective interventions to address the difficulties experienced
- Will work with children and young people who been involved in accidents, had a stroke, sustained head injury, have epilepsy etc.
- Are qualified and registered as Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists or Counselling Psychologists before becoming clinical neuropsychologists and are registered and regulated by HCPC through their initial registration e.g. as a clinical psychologist
- Work with young offenders, victims of crime and young people within the youth justice system
- Use psychological theory to understand and work with young offenders
- Try to reduce the impact of criminal behaviour and minimise the chance of re-offending
- Work with young offenders, their families, other services including offender management services, youth justice service, police, schools, etc
- Work with those who have committed violent, aggressive and/or sexual acts, drug and/or alcohol offences
- Must be registered with HCPC and are regulated by them.
Further information about types of psychologists and their regulation is available on the BPS website: https://explore.bps.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve got a question, there’s a chance you’ll find the answer below. If not – get in touch.
A good starting point would be to look through the Types of Psychologists on the website to see what fits your problem best. Then look for that type of psychologist using your postcode to identify psychologists in your local area. If that does not identify what you feel would be a good match for your needs, try to search using the location option so you can use the area where you live. If you are unsure how to describe the specialism you need, use the Area of Specialism/ Areas of work list on the Find a Psychologist page.
If you cannot find a psychologist using your postcode search try using the location search which works on areas of the country.
In that case we suggest you try using the location search which works on areas of the country so you can request psychologists nearer to your home.
Costs vary in different areas of the country and depending on the level of experience and expertise of the psychologist concerned. There are no standard costs so we suggest you speak to the psychologist direct about this and if you remain concerned you may wish to compare the costs with another clinical psychologist working in the same area.
ACHIPPP has no regulatory powers – they lie with HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council). However, if you would like to complete the Contact form on our website we will try to contact the member on your behalf to put you back in touch with them.
As ACHIPPP has no regulatory powers we would not be able to deal with your complaint. However, we would wish to assist you to express your complaint to the member directly so please complete the contact form on the website so we can facilitate your communication with the member concerned. Complaints should be made to HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) but we would urge you to discuss the matter fully with the psychologist concerned first to give you the best chance of a speedy resolution.
You can use the Directory Search to find out who does Family Court Work but if that does not identify someone for you, please fill in our contact form and explain the issue so we can check with members who have availability to see if they can assist you within your deadline.
AChiPPP members typically work with SEN students to age 25 years so you should be able to find a psychologist to assist you using our Directory Search.
If you are under the age of 25 our member psychologists may be able to help you but if you are older than 25 years you may need to look elsewhere such as the BPS Find a Psychologist: https://www.bps.org.uk/find-psychologist
ACHIPPP is unable to recommend individual members. It is the responsibility of the parent to check to see if the psychologist would be suitable as they have the necessary information about the kind of support needed. If you remain unsure, it may be helpful to look at the list of specialisms. What works for one family may not work for another so we cannot advise you further and suggest you contact and speak to the potential psychologists you have identified to help you make your decision.
Many of our members are very experienced and have specialisms that are highly sought after, so they may have longer waiting lists. Similarly, some areas of the country have more demand than others so you may find someone if you widen your search a little using the location search. If you have still not been able to find a psychologist with availability to help you, try using our Contact form and we will contact members who have availability to see if they can assist you.
It will depend on the type of report, the psychologist you have chosen and the area of the country where you live as costs vary considerably depending on the experience and specialism of the psychologist you have chosen and the area where you live. The cost can also be influenced by the type of report needed e.g. whether it is for court, a school, your GP, for referral elsewhere etc. We recommend talking to individual psychologist to establish the likely cost for your particular needs.
Psychologists may use the same assessments for different purposes and it may depend on the type of psychologist, their specialism, experience and the reason you instructed them. The area of the country where you live or where they practice may have an impact too. The cost can also vary according to the way the report may be used e.g. reports that will be submitted to Appeals or Court hearings are typically more expensive than those for schools, colleges and parents. Some psychologists have to cover overheads which can include secretarial support, office rental etc which other psychologists may not have to consider if they complete the assessment at your home. Whether psychologists are working with a group of psychologists in a practice may influence costs compared to a psychologist working as a sole trader.
We suggest you consult the BPS website which has a section on becoming a psychologist, the types of psychology courses and careers in psychology https://www.bps.org.uk/find-your-career-psychology
We suggest you approach your local psychology services first as some school and care based services may be able to provide work experience opportunities. It is less likely our members will be able to offer opportunities for you but you could try contacting them direct using the Directory Search or location search for your local area. It will depend on the area of psychology you are interested in as the opportunities vary greatly depending on whether you are considering clinical psychology, educational psychology, counselling psychology etc.
If you wish to become a psychologist we suggest you have a look at the British Psychological website who have useful pages on careers in Psychology. https://www.bps.org.uk/find-your-career-psychology
Please use the contact form on our website to send in details of the course and who it is aimed at. Our steering group will need to consider your request and if they agree it is of interest to our members there is an advertising fee of £50 for agreed adverts to be circulated to members.
Parents Resource Bank
Checklist for Parents Visiting/Seeking Placement at a Day Special School
Contributed by Dr Mike Hymans
Contributed by Dilanthi Weerasinghe
Educational Psychologists (often shortened to EPs) work with children and young people (typically aged 0–25), their families, and schools to support learning, development, and wellbeing.
Educational Psychologists are trained in both psychology and education. They use their understanding of how children learn and develop to help when things are not going as expected. This might include:
- Difficulties with learning (e.g. reading, writing, maths)
- Social, emotional or mental health needs (e.g. anxiety, friendships, behaviour)
- Communication and interaction needs (e.g. speech, language, autism)
- Developmental differences or disabilities
- Supporting children through change, trauma, or life events
Rather than only focusing on the child, EPs look at the whole picture — including family, school, and wider environments — to understand what is helping or getting in the way.
They may:
- Talk with parents, carers, and school staff
- Spend time with the child or young person
- Observe in school or early years settings
- Carry out psychological assessments (if appropriate)
- Provide practical strategies and recommendations
- Support planning and review meetings
Their goal is to help others better understand the child/young person and to find ways forward that support positive outcomes.
The role of an Educational Psychologist exists in many countries, but the name can vary. For example:
- In the United States, they are usually called School Psychologists
- In some other countries, you may hear terms like Educational and Developmental Psychologist or School-based Psychologist
While the titles differ, the core aim is similar: applying psychology to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and development in educational and community contexts.
In England and Wales, most Educational Psychologists work in one of two ways:
1. Local Authority Educational Psychology Services (free at point of use)
Every Local Authority (LA) has an Educational Psychology Service. These services are part of the support system set out in the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Code of Practice.
All children and young people are entitled to support through what is called the graduated approach, which follows four stages:
- Assess – understanding the child’s needs
- Plan – agreeing support strategies
- Do – putting support in place
- Review – checking what is working
Schools, early years settings, and colleges can request involvement from an Educational Psychologist as part of this process. For children not in school (for example, in early years or out of education), parents can usually access support through the Local Authority.
This support is free to families, although there may be limits on how much time a school or setting can access.
Each Local Authority publishes details of available services in their Local Offer, which explains what support is available in that area.
2. Independent Educational Psychologists (paid for privately or via legal routes)
Some Educational Psychologists work independently, outside Local Authority services.
Parents may choose to seek an independent EP when:
- They want more immediate or additional input
- They would like a second opinion
- They are involved in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment or appeal
Independent assessments are usually paid for privately, but in some cases, funding may be available through legal aid (for example, during SEND tribunal processes).
Independent EPs follow the same professional standards but are commissioned directly by families or their representatives.
In the UK, the title “Educational Psychologist” is legally protected. This means that anyone using this title must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Parents and carers are strongly advised to:
- Check that any Educational Psychologist is HCPC registered
- Ensure they are legally allowed to practise under this protected title
You can search the HCPC online register to confirm this.
Most Educational Psychologists are also members of the British Psychological Society (BPS). While BPS membership is not required to practise, it is a sign of professional commitment.
EPs are expected to follow:
- The HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics
- The BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct
These frameworks ensure that EPs:
- Work in the best interests of children and families
- Maintain confidentiality
- Use evidence-based approaches
- Practise safely, respectfully, and professionally
A key part of an Educational Psychologist’s role is working collaboratively with parents and carers. Your knowledge of your child is central, and EPs aim to listen carefully and build on strengths, not just focus on difficulties.
Educational Psychologists:
- Help children and young people with learning, development, and wellbeing
- Work closely with families, schools, and other professionals
- Are known by different names internationally (e.g. School Psychologists)
- In England and Wales, are available through Local Authority services (free) or independent practice (paid or legal aid-supported)
- Must be HCPC registered to practise in the UK, and usually follow BPS ethical and professional standards
If you are concerned about your child, a good first step is to talk with their school or setting and explore what support is available through the graduated approach and your Local Authority’s Local Offer.