Positive Educational Psychology

Being Swedish in origin I feel very strongly that our wellbeing and happiness should be more prominent in our way of life and the concept of Lagom, which means ‘just about right, not too much or too little’ is a key concept to Swedish people. This balance between work and pleasure is perhaps more clearly articulated in Scandinavia and sits well together with the key foundation of the Positive Psychology movement. After my initial Psychology degree I worked in the Further Education Sector and I still have a particular interest in adolescents and in Post 16 work. I did my Educational Psychology training at the Tavistock Clinic in London in the mid 90s, and I had a good grounding in Attachment and Resilience based frameworks as well as Family Therapy. Over the years, I have also specialised in specific learning difficulties as well as more recently in Positive Psychology with a particular interest in Coaching Psychology. Over the last year I have received Positive Psychology Coaching from one of Britain’s most well established Positive Psychologists, Miriam Akhtar. Being on the receiving end of good coaching has given me a personal insight into its transformational powers. Having been an educational psychologist for over 20 years in a number of different settings, including both Local Authorities and the Independent Sector, as well as assessments for students in Higher Education, I came across Positive Psychology when experiencing personal and health changes in my own life. I applied a number of Positive Psychology strategies such as The Keys To Happier Living, (See Action for Happiness below) and I learnt to keep my attention and focus in the right place in order to promote wellbeing. I learnt what my Character Strengths were which enabled me to see myself in a different light. I feel strongly that everybody would benefit from knowledge of these principles. I am therefore keen to provide Positive Psychology training and insights to individuals, families and schools. Registered as a Practising Psychologist with the Health and Care Professional’s Council (HCPC) Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Full Member of the Association for Educational Psychologists (AEP) Member of the Association for Child Psychologists in Private Practice (Achippp) Member of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)