Valuing Minds is a Hertfordshire-based independent Educational Psychology consultancy providing services for 0 – 25 year olds, their parents or carers and their school or college in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and North London primarily. We believe in putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do, whether that is conducting an assessment of a young person, contributing to the review of an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) or enabling a school management team to work more effectively together, so that the children in that school benefit from a clear strategy and an improved educational experience.
All our work starts with a free consultation; an information-gathering exercise with you, whether you are a parent, teacher or a youngster yourself. This helps us find out what’s on your mind and what concerns or issues you may have that you are seeking help with. We will work with you to agree a way forward, what steps will be involved and what the associated fees will be. We will keep you informed about progress and, if appropriate, will provide you with a detailed report.
Valuing Minds prides itself on its open, honest and pragmatic approach. This means that we will work to ensure that interventions are practical and focused on the child’s, family’s or school’s needs. We won’t use jargon or ‘psycho-babble’ but aim to explain things in a way that gives you confidence and clarity about what we’re saying.
The psychologists working with Valuing Minds, whether employed by us or our associates, are all members of the British Psychological Society and/or Association of Educational Psychologists and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. This means you can be confident that they have demonstrated the level or knowledge and expertise required to practise as an educational psychologist in the UK. They have all been through the Disclosure and Barring Service (previously known as a CRB check). We have links with other professionals, for example, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists etc. and can involve them as and when appropriate.
Nicola Weisfeld, Director, BSc, PGCE, MSc, Chartered Educational Psychologist, AFBPS
Nicky has had a career spanning both education and business, previously working as a primary school teacher, a Local Authority Educational Psychologist and as a Business Psychologist, supporting both public and private sector organisations. She regularly becomes involved in individual casework and assessments, as well as whole-school initiatives, in-service training for teachers and school senior leadership projects and mentoring. She is also a part-time lecturer on a Batchelor of Education degree course.
She is registered as an Educational Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (Reg number PYL19003), is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (Reg Number 15301), a member of the Association of Educational Psychologists and a member of the Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice.
She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband, teenage daughter and 2 cats, one of which has special needs. When not working, she can be found on the golf course, reading, cooking, involved in craft activities or taking her turn driving the village bus. She enjoys skiing and sailing, when conditions are right.
Katy Thrasher, Assistant Psychologist, MA
Katy is a psychology graduate who has just completed her MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at UCL. She previously did her MA in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Katy lives in Surrey with her family and 3 cats. When not working, she can be found painting, cooking or reading. She enjoys camping and travelling.
To find out more, please get in touch with us.
