'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 awe, 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.

Dr. Alexandra Gregory
Educational Psychologist (GPS Lead)
BSc, PGCE, O. A. Dip, DEdPsy, CPsychol
Chartered Practitioner Psychologist | Qualified Teacher Status | NME trained | ELSA Supervisor | Volunteer Independent Visitor ★
In training: Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor (Tavistock-accredited) | Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner | Mother ♥

Welcome

A very warm welcome to Glimmer Psychology Services (GPS). Based in Worthing, West Sussex, we provide psychological support for children and young people, as well as their families, professionals, and educational settings, to promote wellbeing, learning, and development. Through the core functions of consultation, supervision, assessment, intervention, training, and research/strategic development, our work is tailored to the needs of each individual, family, or organisation.

Mission & values

At GPS, our mission is to support others to navigate their journeys with deeper understanding - helping to make sense of challenges, celebrate and build on strengths, and discover the glimmers of hope that can promote positive change.

To help create meaningful outcomes, our work integrates evidence-based psychological research, with real-world practice-based experience, alongside the unique knowledge, skills, and lived experiences of the people we work with.

Through compassion, curiosity, and reflection, we work with a high-nurture, attachment-focused, and trauma-informed ethos, 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

Informed by both professional and lived experience, we are particularly passionate about supporting:

Siblings of children with complex needs
Children and young people impacted by developmental trauma
Parent/carer wellbeing, particularly during the transition into early parenthood
The 'nurture neuroscience' movement - drawing on responsive, instinctive, attachment-focused nurtured parenting approaches to revolutionise care in the critical early years - preventatively supporting relational security, nervous system regulation, and stress resilience (the foundations for lifelong mental health)

We also advocate for:

Psychological supervision within the helping professions, particularly for school and residential staff
Person-centred planning approaches for young people and organisations

Accordingly, we are especially keen to welcome opportunities to support new parents/carers and their babies ♥ We also value collaboration with specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) settings, and welcome opportunities to work with children and young people in vulnerable groups, including those with care experiences and those who have been excluded (or are at-risk of exclusion) from mainstream settings.

GPS work

Current GPS Services

General

EP work

Link EP: We offer a link EP service.
Supervision: We facilitate individual and group psychological supervision for those working in the helping professions.
Consultation: We provide consultations for staff and families.
PCP: We facilitate person-centred planning sessions for young people, professionals, school teams, and organisations.
Casework: We carry out psychological assessments, including casework over time. As an Associate EP for WSCC, we provide psychological advice for a limited number of EHCNAs.
Therapeutic work: We offer therapeutic work for children presenting with emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA).
EP role: We deliver sessions for college and university psychology students exploring the EP role.

Developmental

trauma

Training: Drawing on completion of the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) 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 organisational support to a local residential children's home.
Volunteering: Alex works as an Independent Visitor (befriender) for a young person in foster care.

Nurture Neuroscience

(once certified)

Sleep support: Providing one-to-one evidence-based sleep consulting to parents for babies (aged 0-3) rooted in a nurtured parenting approach (intuitive, responsive, attachment-focused, neuroscience-informed care) - without 'sleep training'.
Pregnancy circles: Leading 12-week pregnancy circles to support nurtured pregnancy, birth, and post-partum.
Parent & baby circles: Leading 12-week parent/carer and baby circles to promote brain-healthy and mental health-promoting practices.
Training: Facilitating Nurtured Sleep and Nurtured Parenting structured parenting workshops.

Sibling & family

support

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.
Parent support: We are keen to set up support groups for parents/carers of children with additional needs in the future - providing a reflective space to prioritise parental wellbeing.