English & French Educational Psychologist and Coach, Villars-sur-Ollon (Chesières)

I was brought up in Wales and lived there until I went to the University of Leicester, where I obtained a BA in Social Sciences (Psychology and Law).

I came to Switzerland for the first time in 1994 as an au pair, then gained work experience in various settings, before deciding to continue my studies in psychology at Lausanne University. In search of a healthy balance between my role as a new mum and student life, I discovered the benefits of coaching and decided to train in the field. In 2003, I obtained a Masters in Psychology (school psychology option) and a diploma in individual coaching. I was initially employed as a psychologist in a local human resources centre and whereby my role was to conduct psychological assessments and counselling for children and adults, provide extracurricular workshops for gifted children as well as co-animate coaching workshops for team leaders.

Since 2004 I have been called upon to provide educational psychology services, learning guidance and in-service training to teachers in several local swiss private schools. I have gained an in-depth experience in working with children, young people and adults of different cultures and languages, third culture kids, expat and mobile families.

I continue to develop my knowledge and training through regular further professional courses in Switzerland and surrounding countries as well as through professional supervision. Over the last few years I have mainly focused on child and adolescent psychology, ADHD and training in Brief, Systemic and Strategic Therapy (Palo Alto approach). I am also able to refer to my personal life experiences, especially that of being a mum to three children.
I am particularly interested in ADHD and giftedness, both in children and adults, particularly the profiles and needs of girls and women who fall into these descriptions. Professional and personal experiences have also led me to develop specific interest in issues surrounding bereavement and child-parent separation, attachment disorders as well as in the links between food, cognitive abilities and behaviour.