'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 | Mother ♥
In training: Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor | Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner ★

Welcome

A very warm welcome to Glimmer Psychology Services (GPS). Based in Worthing, West Sussex, we provide psychological services 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 people to navigate their journeys towards a deeper understanding - making sense of challenges, illuminating strengths, and discovering the glimmers of hope that can promote positive change.

In order to 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 aim to 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 experiences in these areas, we are particularly passionate about supporting:

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

We are also keen advocates 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 particularly keen to welcome opportunities to support parents and their babies ♥ We are also keen to collaborate with specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) settings, and 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

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.