Gateway Psychology

05/08/2026

📢 Calling adopted young people aged 12–25!

Have you been supported by a North West Regional Adoption Agency within the last five years?

We're looking for adopted young people to join our Lived Experience Project, where you'll help shape how professionals are trained to better understand and support adopted children, young people and families.

Your experiences and insights can make a real difference. By sharing your views, you'll help ensure that training is informed by the people who matter most.

✨ What's involved?
• Paid opportunities to get involved.
• Flexible ways to take part.
• Support throughout your involvement.
• A chance to influence the future of adoption support.

📅 The deadline to express your interest is this Friday, 7 August.

If you'd like to get involved, complete our Expression of Interest form using this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/rrzVn5Zevs. If you'd prefer to express your interest in a different way, just get in touch – we're happy to help.

Please share this post to help us reach adopted young people who may be interested. 💙

31/07/2026

What do wigs, witness boxes and Clinical Psychology have in common? 👩‍⚖️🤔

Yesterday, our Clinical Director, Meryl, was at Staffordshire University delivering a guest lecture to Trainee Clinical Psychologists on the role of the Expert Witness in family court proceedings.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Meryl explored the realities and responsibilities of assessing children and families, formulating psychological opinions, writing reports for the court, and presenting evidence as an Expert Witness. The session also covered the importance of communicating complex psychological concepts in a clear, objective and accessible way when giving evidence.

We're always proud to contribute to the training of the next generation of Clinical Psychologists and to share the knowledge and skills that underpin high-quality psychological practice. 💚

22/07/2026

We are delighted to be facilitating this lived experience project as part of our work on trauma-informed training for professionals in the North West! If you are an adopter or adopted young person who has worked with Adoption Counts, Adoption Cumbria, Together for Adoption, Adoption Now, Adoption Lancashire and Blackpool or Adoption in Merseyside in the last 5 years, we'd love to hear from you.

Expressions of interest close on 7 August (extended deadline from 31 July).

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/rrzVn5Zevs

North West Regional Adoption Agencies are looking for adoptive parents and adopted young people (aged 12–25) to help shape a new specialist trauma-informed training programme for professionals. You can

💡Share your ideas

📋Help improve professional learning

🌟Choose how you'd like to get involved

💰 Get paid for your time

If you are interested please visit https://bit.ly/4gLdiyt

Expressions of interest close on 31 July 2026.

21/07/2026

Can trauma affect a child before they have words to describe what has happened?

It's a question that comes up regularly in practice.

Understanding how early experiences influence brain development, emotional regulation, attachment and behaviour can help us make greater sense of the children and young people we support, particularly those who have experienced early adversity.

Our Preverbal Trauma Training for Professionals explores these topics through developmental neuroscience, attachment theory and clinical practice, with plenty of opportunity for reflection and discussion throughout the day.

Whether you work in social care, education, health, fostering, adoption or therapeutic services, the course aims to deepen understanding and support trauma-informed practice.

📅 10 August (BST)
📅 5 November (GMT)
💻 Live online
💷 £160 + VAT

Find out more and book your place via our website: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/events/1-preverbal-trauma-training-for-professionals/

17/07/2026

Sometimes, the most important conversations don't happen with words.

We recently caught up with our Play Therapist, Helen, to chat about what play therapy really looks like, how children communicate through play, and some of the misconceptions she comes across.

It's a really thoughtful insight into the therapeutic process, and we'd love to know what resonates with you.

💚 Read the full interview here:

An insight into the role of play therapy and the difference it can make for children and families When people hear the term play therapy, they often imagine a child spending time playing games, drawing pictures or using toys. Whilst play is certainly central to the process, play therapy is

15/07/2026

We are delighted to welcome a new neighbour on The Boulevard! Looking forward to popping in for a coffee ☕

10/07/2026

📖 In case you missed it...

What do we really mean when we talk about "resistance"?

Professionals working with children, young people and families will all experience moments where relationships feel stuck. Appointments are missed, conversations go round in circles, or agreed plans don't seem to move forward.

But what if resistance isn't simply about someone being unwilling to engage?

Our latest blog explores how trauma, attachment, relationships and power can all shape engagement, and why approaching these situations with curiosity rather than judgement can help us build stronger, more effective professional relationships.

If you work in social work, psychology, education, safeguarding or therapeutic services, we hope it offers a useful opportunity for reflection.

📖 Read the full blog here: https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/understanding-working-with-resistance/

And if you'd like to explore these ideas in more depth, our Working with Resistance workshop is taking place on 27 August 2026.

Professionals working with children, young people and families will often encounter situations where progress feels difficult. A young person may not attend appointments. A parent may seem reluctant to discuss concerns. Conversations may feel repetitive or circular. Recommendations that everyone agr...

09/07/2026

What happens during an ASD assessment at Gateway?

If you're considering an assessment for your child, you may be wondering what the process involves.

Our ASD assessments are comprehensive and follow NICE guidelines. Rather than basing a decision on a single appointment, we gather information from a range of sources to develop a detailed understanding of your child.

This usually includes:

• A clinical interview with parents or carers
• A face-to-face assessment with your child or young person
• Information from school, such as a teacher interview or observation where appropriate
• Discussion within our multidisciplinary team
• A detailed assessment report with the outcome and recommendations
• An optional feedback appointment

Where appropriate, we may also involve or recommend input from other professionals, such as Speech and Language Therapists or Occupational Therapists, to ensure your child receives the most appropriate assessment and recommendations.

If you have questions about the assessment process, our team is always happy to help.

https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/services/asd-assessments/

08/07/2026

Teenage years can be hard to understand…especially when early trauma is part of the picture.

Adolescence brings huge changes in the brain, identity and relationships. For young people who have experienced early trauma or attachment disruption, these changes can sometimes feel even bigger - for them and for the adults supporting them.

Our A-ABC Therapeutic Parenting Programme is an eight-session online course designed for adoptive parents, foster carers, kinship carers and special guardians of teenagers.

Together we'll explore:
🧠 Understanding the teenage brain and the impact of trauma
💙 Attachment and relationships in adolescence
🌱 Emotional regulation and co-regulation
🗣️ Communication, connection and reducing conflict
🤝 Building stronger, more secure relationships
✨ Practical therapeutic parenting strategies you can use every day

Delivered live online by experienced clinicians, the programme combines evidence-based learning with reflection, discussion and the opportunity to connect with other parents and carers who truly understand the journey.

📅 Starts Tuesday 29 September
🕙 Tuesday mornings, 10:00–12:30
💻 Live online

https://www.gateway-psychology.co.uk/events/4-a-abc-therapeutic-parenting-morning/

07/07/2026

It's going to be a hot few days, and we know that warm weather can be particularly uncomfortable for some children, young people and adults, especially those with sensory differences or certain health conditions.

If you're coming to see us, we have cold, refrigerated water available and ice pops if you'd like one. We will also be doing our best to keep our clinic as cool and comfortable as possible.

Please wear whatever helps you feel comfortable, stay hydrated on your journey, and let a member of our team know if there's anything we can do to make your visit a little easier.

We look forward to welcoming you. Take care in the sunshine, and remember to keep cool and hydrated if you're out and about. ☀️💙