'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 & HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist | Clinical Supervisor (Tavistock-trained) | ELSA Supervisor | NME-Trained | Qualified Teacher Status | Independent Visitor (Volunteer) ★ In training: Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner | Mother ♥

Welcome

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

Mission & values

At GPS, our mission is to support families and professionals by integrating the unique knowledge, skills, and lived experiences of those we work with, with evidence-based psychological research and practice-based real-world experience. We aim to help others navigate their journeys with deeper understanding and confidence - making sense of challenges, recognising and building on strengths; and discovering the 'glimmers of hope' that can create meaningful outcomes and spark positive change.

Our approach is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and reflection. We aim to work within a high-nurture, attachment-focused, and trauma-informed ethos, guided by 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

Rooted in both professional knowledge 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, especially during the transition into early parenthood
The 'nurture neuroscience' movement - bringing together love and science to revolutionise care in the critical earliest years of life

As a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner (in training), our preventative work with expectant families, new parents/carers, and their babies draws on responsive, instinctive, attachment-focused nurtured parenting approaches. Grounded in neuroscience, we aim to harness the power of nurture to strengthen relational security, nervous system regulation, and stress resilience - the foundations of 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

We also value collaboration with specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) settings, particularly in supporting children and young people who have been excluded - or are at-risk of exclusion - from mainstream education.

GPS work

Current GPS Services

General

EP work

Link EP: Link EP service.
Supervision: Relational and reflective psychological supervision for staff working in schools and community contexts - for individuals and groups.
Consultation: Parent/carer and staff consultations.
PCP: Person-centred planning sessions for young people, professionals, school teams, and organisations.
Casework: Psychological assessments, involving casework over time. Psychological advice for a limited number of EHCNAs as an Associate EP (through WSCC).
Therapeutic work: Therapeutic work for children presenting with emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA).
EP role: Sessions for college and university psychology students exploring the EP role.

Nurture Revolution

Sleep support: One-to-one evidence-based sleep consulting to parents/carers for infants aged 0-3, rooted in an attachment-focused and neuroscience-informed nurtured parenting approach - we do not support 'sleep training'.
Pregnancy circles: Leading Nurture Neuroscience pregnancy circles for expectant mums - to support nurtured pregnancy, birth, and post-partum.
Mum & baby circles: Leading Nurture Neuroscience mum and baby circles for parents and their babies - to promote brain-healthy and mental health-promoting practices.
Training: Facilitating Nurtured Sleep and Nurtured Parenting structured experiential parenting workshops.

Developmental

trauma

Training: Training and supervision for settings in the area of stress, trauma, and attachment - drawing on completion of the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) Trainer programme with Dr Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential Network in America (a neurobiological trauma-informed approach to promote regulation, relationships, and readiness for learning).
Casework: Consultation, assessment, supervisory, and organisational support for those supporting children with early experiences of trauma and attachment disruption, including for residential settings.
Volunteering: Alex's long-ter role as an Independent Visitor (befriender) for a young person in foster care.

Sibling & family

support

Sibling events: Talks and workshops for siblings of children with additional needs, and assisting with sibling group sessions and events through a local charity.
Therapeutic work: One-to-one therapeutic work for siblings of children with additional needs - providing the time and a safe space for young people to explore and process their unique family experiences.
Parent support: We are keen to set up a local support group for parents/carers of children with additional needs in the future - providing a reflective space to prioritise parental wellbeing.