'Glimmer'

Definition: A faint glow of light, 'a glimmer of hope', a suggestion of possibility.
In the trauma literature: The opposite of a 'trigger' - moments that spark joy, warmth and/or peace - fostering comfort, safety, connection, self-compassion, and nervous system regulation. 'Glimmer-seeking': The intentional practice of noticing these glimmers to nurture gratitude, wellbeing, resilience, and healing.

GPS lead: Dr. Alexandra Gregory
Educational Psychologist
BSc, PGCE, O. A. Dip, DEdPsy, CPsychol
Chartered Practitioner Psychologist; Qualified Teacher Status; NME trained; ELSA Supervisor; Volunteer Independent Visitor; Mother ♥
Soon-to-be/training in progress: Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor; Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner ★

Welcome

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Glimmer Psychology Services (GPS), based in Worthing, West Sussex.

We offer psychological support for children and young people (aged 0-25), families, professionals, educational settings, and organisations - through consultation, supervision, assessment, intervention, training, and research roles.

Mission & values

At GPS, our mission is to be a 'guiding light' - helping those we work with to 'navigate' their journeys towards greater understanding, connection, learning, and wellbeing. We aim to 'see the light' in every story - illuminating strengths and discovering the 'glimmers of hope' that inspire positive change and promote thriving.

Within this, we integrate evidence-based psychological research and real-world practice-based experience, alongside the unique knowledge and skills of the people we work with, to create meaningful outcomes that aim to make a difference.

Through compassion, curiosity, and reflection, we work with an ethos that is high-nurture, attachment-focused, and trauma-informed - grounded in values that are:

Psychological, ethical, and evidence-informed.
Relational, respectful, and inclusive.
Creative, systemic, and holistic.
Person-centred, collaborative, and empowering.
Strengths-based, solution-oriented, and aspirational.

Specialist interests

We are passionate about supporting:

Siblings of children with complex needs - informed by lived family experience.
Developmental trauma - informed by lived family experience.
Psychological supervision for professionals working within the helping professions.
Person-centred planning approaches for young people and organisations.
Parent/carer wellbeing - informed by both family experiences and our personal journey into motherhood.
The 'nurture neuroscience' movement - drawing on attachment and nurtured parenting approaches to revolutionise care in the critical early years. Working preventatively to help shape attachment security, emotional regulation, and stress resilience - the foundation for lifelong mental health.

We are also keen to collaborate with specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) settings, and with children and young people in vulnerable groups, such as those with care experiences or those who have been excluded (or are at-risk of exclusion) from mainstream settings.

GPS work

Current GPS Services

Developmental

trauma

Training: Drawing on completion of the NME (the Neurosequential Model in Education) Trainer programme with Dr Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential Network in America, we provide training and supervision for settings in the area of stress, trauma, and attachment - drawing upon neurobiological trauma-informed approaches to promote regulation, relationships, and readiness for learning.
Casework: We offer consultation, assessment, and supervisory support for those supporting children with early experiences of trauma and attachment disruption.
Systemic: We have provided support to a local residential children's home e.g. facilitating an 'organisational PATH'
Volunteering: Alex works as an Independent Visitor (befriender) for a young person in foster care.

Sibling & family

support

Family support: Following completion of the Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification, we aim to set up neuroscience-informed consultations, workshops, and support groups for parents/carers of early years children (0-3) - providing a reflective space to prioritise parental wellbeing, and evidence-based attachment and nurtured parenting approaches.
Sibling events: We run talks and workshops for siblings of children with additional needs, and have assisted with sibling group sessions and events through Super Siblings.
Therapeutic work: We offer 1-1 therapeutic work for siblings - providing the time/a safe space for young people to explore/process their unique family experiences.

Staff

supervision

Staff supervision: Drawing on our Tavistock training in psychological supervision, we facilitate individual and group psychological supervision sessions for professionals, including members of school senior leadership teams.
ELSA supervision: We run group supervision sessions for Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (the ELSA programme) within early years, primary, secondary and specialist settings through Psychology First.
Trauma-informed supervision: We facilitate regular ongoing supervision for settings who have received trauma-informed training.

Additional

EP work

Link EP: We offer a link EP service for schools.
Consultation: We provide general consultation services for schools, families and/or professionals.
PCP: We facilitate person-centred planning sessions for children and young people, professionals, school teams, and organisations.
Casework: We carry out a small number of assessments, involving casework over time. As an Associate EP, we provide psychological advice for a limited number of EHCNAs through West Sussex County Council.
Therapeutic work: We offer 1-1 therapeutic work for children presenting with emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA).
EP role: We run sessions for college and university psychology students on the EP role.