Total Psychology - Ethos & Values
When working with individuals, families or organisations, I strive to enhance an individual’s quality of life for the present period and into their future. There is always a person-centred focus and acknowledgement that progress is at an individual’s own pace and tailored to their bespoke needs and desires. Enabling individuals’ sense of safety, developing self-confidence and a sense of belonging embeds my principles and evidence-based interventions.
My role as a psychologist is to acknowledge and promote the neurodiversity of individuals by respectfully supporting and accepting individual needs and care pathways. As such the specialist input remains flexible whilst being highly individualised and tailored to particular needs, strengths, interests and in some cases linked to managing and monitoring safety and risks posed to self or others. Evaluation and monitoring of an individual’s progress or change of presentations is ongoing; outcomes are linked to the specific psychological guidance and evidence-based interventions presented / implemented. This allows for prompt multidisciplinary reviews of input and promotes collaborative care.
Support and psychological interventions can be directing such as via assessments, observations, discussions and therapeutic 1:1 or group sessions. In addition, support to staff and families includes enhancing environments and best practice to suit an individual and by offering psychological and behavioural guidance and training workshops. Training is tailored to the service linking to areas including Trauma Informed Practice, autism, attachment, brain development, managing challenging behaviours, self-harm and working with families. All levels of input are based on key principles of inclusion and liaison with those involved to enhance individual’s choice and control for managing their own health, care, emotions, behaviours and wellbeing.
When supporting organisations or individuals with assessments, my work practice is to provide initial assessments. Then depending on need, in-depth psychological assessment and/or diagnostic reports will be undertaken based on request and / or need. Functional psychological assessments and formulations vary but general explore mental health, capacity, wellbeing, risks, strengths, limitations, social aspects, peer compatibility, independence, identity, placement needs, diagnosis and include detailed guidance and support on next steps.
Fundamentally the psychological ethos is on enabling and respecting individuals’ quality of life, linking specifically to maintaining dignity, psychological health and wellbeing.