About me

I am an Educational and Child Psychologist with over twenty years of experience working with children and young people and in schools.  I have worked in local authority contexts and in private practice, in maingrade and management roles and with early years, primary, secondary, special and alternative settings.

I love psychology and what it can offer us in making sense of messy real life experiences.  Through building positive relationships I bring psychology to many situations, helping to increase capacity and understanding in the contexts that surround children and young people.   

Dr Kate Turner

E​xperience has shown me the most effective ways that I can make a positive contribution.  The following beliefs underpin the educational psychology service that I offer:

  • ✔
    Relationships are fundamental
  • ✔
    Making sense of what is happening for a child/young person helps us to achieve sustainable change for that individual
  • ✔
    Promoting the wellbeing of the adults who interact with children and young people builds resilience to create a context that enables change and growth to take place
  • ✔
    Working together is more effective:  Collaboration is central to my practice.
  • ✔
    Psychology can be used flexibly to respond to school priorities in different ways and impact change
  • ✔
    How we do something matters

My interests and approach 

As an Educational and Child Psychologist (EP), I become involved in a wide variety of activities within the school community and for many different areas of need.

I am particularly interested in children’s social and emotional development, especially in relation to attachment, trauma and adverse childhood experiences, as well as the ways that executive functions impact on children’s learning and social/emotional experiences.  

I have valued experiences of working with special schools for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs to extend my knowledge and understanding of this area.  I have also been involved in establishing a borough-wide ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) project, as well as delivering ELSA training and providing ELSA supervision.

I firmly believe in the value of providing a safe and reflective space to help professionals process and relieve the emotional and cognitive load of their work, particularly in education where there is so much dedication and complexity.  This helps to protect the wellbeing of adults in pupils' lives, and increases capacity in their context.  I have over six years’ experience and training in providing reflective professional supervision for many  EPs, trainee EPs and school staff (including school leaders).  I also provide staff coaching to support professional development and wellbeing.

To get the most out of our work together, it is important that you feel comfortable, valued and that you have confidence in what I can offer.  I strive to nurture this in my interactions with schools staff, families, children/young people and other professionals:  people have described me as friendly, approachable and professional.   This enables me to build positive relationships to underpin a sense of partnership and collaboration and move us towards our hopes and achieve positive outcomes.

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (University College London)
  • BSc (Hons) Experimental Psychology (University of Bristol)
  • BPS Learning Centre Approved Supervision Skills Training
  • BPS Approved Quality Reflective Supervision in a Changing Educational Landscape
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children & Young People (UCL/Anna Freud Centre)

Professional Memberships

  • Registered with Health and Care Professions Council
  • British Psychological Society Membership
  • Division of Educational and Child Psychology Membership
  • Enhanced DBS Certificate

Find out more

If you have any questions or would like to discuss working together, please get in touch.

Contact me