About

Dr. Jennifer Waite

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

(Managing Director of Waite Psychology Ltd)

Jen received her Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (DEdChPsy) from The University of Manchester and has delivered educational psychology services within the local authority and private sector for over 12 years. She set up Waite Psychology Ltd in 2018. Prior to completing her professional training, Jen qualified with a first-class honours degree in Psychology in Education from Lancaster University and worked as an Assistant Educational Psychologist for a local authority.

In her role as Managing Director, Jen takes the strategic lead on organising our Service Level Agreements with individual educational settings and across several Academy Trusts. She co-ordinates support throughout the team and works collaboratively with our Assistant EPs. Jen also takes the lead on our business and project development and works closely with Jane, Tasha and Elaine in the office.

As well as running our team, Jen maintains a diary of regular schools, providing a range of applied psychology services to educational settings across the North West.

Jen’s area of specialism is within social and emotional development and she is an Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed (AATI) specialist. It is from within the AATI role that Jen's passion emanates in empowering whole school policy and practice, instilling skills and confidence in school staff by enabling them to support children and young people to grow within their emotional security in school and, therefore, accessing learning opportunities and, most importantly, continuing their education.

Dr. Michael Waite

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

(Director of Waite Psychology Ltd)

Mike received his Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (DEdChPsy) from The University of Manchester in 2020 and soon after joined Jen, turning Waite Psychology into a family run service. Prior to completing his professional training, Mike completed a Masters in Psychology, qualifying with a Distinction, and worked as an Assistant Educational Psychologist and a Therapeutic Practitioner.

Mike supports many of our schools and Academy Trusts, providing a range of educational psychology support across all areas of need. He also takes a lead on supporting the District 13 Inclusion Hub and is part of the steering group for our ‘Roots to Wings’ Therapeutic Intervention.

Mike has a particular interest within the field of adolescent social, emotional and mental health. He is passionate about effecting positive changes for children and young people through applications of evidence-based interventions and consultation models of practice. Mike's support is underpinned by his therapeutic skills and philosophies on child-centred practice which aim to ensure children and young people's voices play a key role in defining their needs and in devising solutions to best to support them.

Dr. Cathy Atkinson

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

Cathy is a HCPC registered EP, who also works on the Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (DEdChPsy) Training Programme at the University of Manchester.

She specialises in working therapeutically with children and young people and works within alternative provisions across the North West. Other current research interests include social justice, consultation, parental alcohol misuse and the role of sport and exercise within mental health and well-being.

Dr. Genevieve Howell

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

Genevieve received her Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (DEdChPsy) from the University of Manchester in 2013 and worked as a local authority EP until 2024. Whilst working in a local authority, Genevieve held a lead role in early years as well as working with schools, virtual school and social care.

Genevieve is a passionate and hard-working psychologist who is now embracing work as an independent EP. Her interests are varied and include early years, attachment, prematurity, mental health and well-being and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Dr. Sarah Goalen

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

Sarah completed her Doctoral Training in Educational and Child Psychology (DEdChPsy) in 2013. Since then, she has worked as an EP in several different local authorities. Sarah has enjoyed leading on the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) project, which has involved training, supervising and co-ordinating multiple cohorts of ELSAs.

Sarah has worked in a wide range of schools, early years and specialist settings, providing support at the individual and whole school level through consultation, assessment, therapeutic work and training.

Sarah is passionate about supporting children's mental health and well-being and she also has strong interests in neurodiversity, therapeutic approaches and the use of positive psychology.

Dr. Hannah Cartmell

(Educational and Child Psychologist)

Hannah Cartmell is a HCPC registered EP, who worked as a Senior EP with a mental health specialism for a local authority until 2024. This involved leading on a project to support schools develop whole school approaches to mental health.

Hannah works as a tutor on the Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (DEdChPsy) Training Programme at the University of Manchester, where one of her responsibilities is Course Convenor for the Mental Health, Wellbeing and Therapeutic Practice Module.

Hannah also works as an independent EP across the North West. Her interests include Relational Approaches, The Right to Play, Social Justice, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Barriers to School Attendance (EBSA). Hannah is also a qualified CBT therapist.

Sarah Benson

(Specialist Teacher and Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Sarah has a wealth of knowledge across all areas of SEND and SEN policy and practice.

Sarah provides a range of support within her dual role of Specialist Teacher and Assistant Psychologist. She has also taken a lead on the support provided to the District 1 Inclusion Hub, where she supports schools through writing psychological advice based on relationship and regulation plans for individual children.

Hannah Fyfe

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Hannah has worked as a primary school teacher for seven years. For the last two, she has worked as an Assistant SENCo.

Hannah works collaboratively with Jen, completing assessments and educational psychology reports. She supports the District 1 Inclusion Hub and has a key role within project development and the implementation of interventions in our schools.

Kathryn Gorsuch

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Kathryn Gorsuch is working under the title of "Assistant Educational Psychologist" whilst undertaking her Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (DEdChPsy) at Manchester University and is currently a Year 3 Trainee EP.

Before starting the Doctorate, Kathryn was a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, Assistant Headteacher and Teacher of English.

Georgia Leyland

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Georgia has been an Assistant Educational Psychologist for three years. Before this, she was a Primary School Teacher in KS1.

Georgia works alongside Jen to deliver support to school, children and families by providing holistic psychological assessments and guidance.

Alongside this role, Georgia is also training to become a qualified EP and is on the three year Doctoral Training programme at Manchester University (DEdChPsy).

Georgia Abel

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Georgia is currently completing her Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology at the University of Manchester (DEdChPsy).

She has worked in an educational psychology service for the past three years as an Assistant Educational Psychologist within the local authority. Prior to working within educational psychology services, Georgia worked as a key worker in nurseries, supporting children with social communication difficulties and as a tutor, supporting children at primary and secondary level.

Georgia is passionate about ensuring young people feel safe and that they are listened to. She enjoys taking relational and solution-oriented approaches and working collaboratively with key adults to help children access and enjoy learning opportunities.

Tara Mycock

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Tara is a former teacher, who has taught across primary, secondary and special education, with roles in middle leadership and pastoral

Tara is working alongside Jen as an Assistant EP, completing observations, assessments and providing advice to schools.

Alongside this role, Tara is also training to become a qualified EP and is on the three year Doctoral Training Programme at Manchester University (DEdChPsy).

Ciara McNeill

(Assistant Educational Psychologist)

Ciara is currently completing her Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (DEdChPsy) at the University of Manchester. She has previously worked as an Assistant Educational Psychologist in a local authority service, building on her years of experience as a primary school teacher.

Ciara is passionate about using collaborative approaches to support schools in creating inclusive, nurturing environments where all children can thrive. She values working closely with parents and carers, recognising the vital role their insights play in understanding and supporting their child’s development.

Victoria Matichecchia

(Specialist Teacher)

Vic has worked in education for over 19 years, having been a Teacher, SENCo, SEND Officer for a local authority and a Qualified Play Therapist.

For three years, Vic worked for Waite Psychology Ltd as an Assistant Psychologist, working closely with Jen, whilst continuing her roles as a SEND Consultant and SENDCo. Due to her level of knowledge and expertise, Vic enabled us to develop our Specialist Teacher Service, for which she takes a lead role in delivering across our schools.

In addition to developing the role of Specialist Teacher for Waite Psychology Ltd, Vic continues to develop her expertise within specialist pedagogy, approaches and curriculums as she works part time at a Special School for SLD/PMLD. This has enabled her to focus her professional development within the areas of Significant Learning Difficulty/Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (SLD/PMLD), providing a significant impact on supporting many of our mainstream schools in setting up and running specialist units or resource classrooms, and implementing specialist curriculums.

Jenna Long

(Emotional Regulation and Inclusion Coach)

Commissioned through the District 1 Inclusion Hub, Jenna supports schools through coaching key members of staff to understand and apply the strategies within our Relationship and Regulation Plans.

Jenna also works in collaboration with Vic and Jen to help schools and children in crisis situations. This is through emergency planning and intensive coaching support with the aim of reducing permanent exclusions.

Jenna has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the field of Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed (AATI) practice and has the natural gift of connection with both children and staff, enabling her to support them both through challenging situations.

Emily

(Trainee educational psychologist)

Emily is a trainee educational psychologist at the University of Manchester. She is a trained primary teacher and has a range of experience within the education sector. Most recently, Emily has worked as a SENDCo in a specialist school for children with social emotional and mental health difficulties.

Jane Heyworth

(School Management and Finance Officer)

Jane has recently joined the team following a 13 year career as a school bursar.

Jane has the pivotal role of running our office and finances. Within her role, Jane also supports the team to provide our HR compliance procedures and supports our schools in managing their service level agreements.

Natasha Archer

(Administrative, Projects and Communications Co-ordinator)

With 20 years of admin experience, Tasha joined Waite Psychology Ltd to support Jen and the team with administrative tasks. This includes helping with the day to day running of the office, taking a lead on communications and developing upcoming projects across the team.

Elaine Stoker

(Administrative Support)

Elaine is Jen’s mum and another member of the Waite Psychology family team.

Elaine worked in various administrative roles and was a Personal Assistant to a Chief Executive within a local authority before she retired in 2015. Since the company was formed, she has supported the team in completing the essential role of proof-reading psychological reports, which ensures the quality and clarity of advice we provide.