Dr Julia Alfano Chartered Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychologist in Surrey
Parents/carers - Do you have a child/teen or a child who is finding it challenging with transitioning into young adulthood, who maybe struggling emotionally? Are they experiencing lack of self-belief, or difficulties managing and navigating friendships and relationships generally? Have they experienced bullying in education settings or potentially in the work place as a young adult ? or have they experienced significant life events linked to loss and bereavement including the impacts of a divorce even if it is a historic separation? Has your child or teen experienced significant traumatic events at home or school/ college/ university ? Are you or is your child or teen highly anxious or have they become very low in mood? Do they experience high levels of emotional and behavioural dysregulation including feelings of being overwhelmed and ' shutting down' ? It maybe you are concerned that your child/teen may have some unidentified learning or language need affecting their achievement and their self esteem ? Are you worried about SPLD/Dyslexia ? Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Do you need evidence for an EHC application ?
My name is Dr Julia Alfano and I have been a practising educational, child and adolescent psychologist for over 20 years across Local Authorites, education settings, childrens social care, including working closely with foster carers, adoptive parents and therapeutic residential care, NHS services including CAMHS, Youth Offending Teams (YOT). and working directly with children, young people and families all over the UK.
I have training and extensive experienced in helping children, teens and young adults who have experienced difficulties/differences with:
- Adult and peer relationships including needs related to social communication differences
- Anxiety at school and home
- Bereavement and loss
- Mood regulation
- Risk of exploitation
- Attachment and developmental trauma ( extensive training and experience with care experienced children and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -CPTSD)
- Child protection and safeguarding
- Negative self- concept and lack of self belief
- Lack of an authentic sense of self
- Self-harming behaviours
- Eating difficulties
- Emotional and behavioural dysregulation
- Challenges related to neurodiversity
- Sexually problematic behaviours
- Risk taking in adolescence
- Learning difficulties including Specific Learning Difficulties (SPLD ) and Global Developmental Delays (GDD)
- Specific language difficulties and Developmental Language Delay (DLD)
- Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
- Sensory regulation (linked to emotional regulation)
I practise as an educational child and adolescent psychologist across the south east of the UK. and also provide parent only consultations.
Testimonials
"Working with Julia has been an absolute pleasure because she is passionate about the child who is at the heart of what she does"
"She has a tremendous understanding and acceptance of children and their issues and can voice their needs articulately and succinctly'
"All the children she has worked with have adored her and she gets the best out of them because she focuses on them 100%"
"The insights that Julia provides are informed and illuminating in helping others to see how to move things forward in a meaningful manner"
"Julia has a high level of interpersonal skill, she possesses a warm professional style in her interactions with children and adolescents"
"Parents are always happy with the outcomes even those parents who struggle to accept their children have difficulties. Julia has a calm and reassuring manner"
"Julia is such a pleasure to work with . She has energy and commitment to working with young people who have highly complex needs. We are very impressed with her"
"Julia is very intuitive and her expertise in linking theory to behaviour and helping to develop strategies to support young people in troubling times is truly inspiring"
"I have worked with Julia for over a year using therapeutic play based approaches. She is reliable and approachable with a wealth of knowledge. She has given me support and strategies to take forward in the care of my little one. Julia is very professional but also very warm and supportive. She is always giving me new ideas and ways of working through difficulties that my little one has needed support with. Julia has a very child friendly approach when working, allowing my little one to build up trust and engage very successfully with her. Julia's approach to therapy is instinctive and attuned. It has been a pleasure to work with her"
