Discover The Freedom
To Thrive
Comprehensive Psychological Services
At EduPsych, we understand that each individual’s journey is unique. That’s why we offer a wide range of psychological services tailored to meet the diverse needs of children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Our services are designed to identify and address any barriers, tap into cognitive potential, and build essential coping skills and resilience.
Whether you are seeking support for learning difficulties, such as specific learning difficulties or dyslexia, looking to enhance self-regulation and social functioning, or aiming to discover new pathways in career planning, EduPsych is here to help.
Our evidence-based programs, including Tuning into Teens Parenting guidance, and zones of tolerance advice, are crafted to provide meaningful and impactful support to help our clients thrive.
Services
What We Do at EduPsych
ADHD & Zones of Tolerance
Live Recordings from Our ADHD & The Zones of Tolerance event
2 Hours
2 Lessons
Beginner Level
FREE
Career assessment
Comprehensive career evaluations designed to guide individuals in their career planning. These assessments include an initial contact session, an online assessment and guidance session, cost of materials and online reports, and a feedback session to ensure tailored career support.
3 hours
Online Assessment and Guidance session
Includes Career Report
Feedback session
$700
Learning assessment
Comprehensive evaluations, including scholastic testing, cognitive assessments, and clinical observations. These assessments help diagnose various learning and emotional issues, ensuring tailored support for every individual
Over 10 Hours
Assessment and observation session
Scoring, interpretation and analysis
Complete Report
Feedback session
$1500
Payment plans available
Services We Provide
How can We Help?
Parenting Advice services
Guiding your child’s Learning Potential & related vocational & career planning
Supporting your child’s best Study skills
Advice with with managing anxiety & School refusal
Advice with building social and emotional skills in your child
How to understand and cope with trauma responses in your child’s behaviour.
Workshops and Training
Study Skills Workshop (Buy recording) (Sign up for next live session)
ADHD and zones of tolerance (buy recording) (Sign up for next live session)
When your child can’t accept the word “No!” How to build social and emotional skills in your child by understanding theory of mind, and sensory modulation.
Understanding learning difficulties- what to do, where to start.
Understanding the trauma response in behaviour management.
Understanding anxiety and school refusal. Why is it here, where does it come from, and what can we do to help manage it?
Please note that therapy and counselling services are unfortunately not available at this time.
Yet, EduPsych can help refer you if this is required.
If you are interested in this option please let us know, and we will come back to you with referral options.
Our Team:
Julia McAllister
Director,
Educational Psychologist
Julia: Educational Psychologist
Julia is an experienced and dedicated Educational Psychologist and teacher, with a diverse background from working in South Africa, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.
She has practiced both privately and in school-based settings, honing her therapeutic counseling skills with children and adolescents. Julia has trained in Narrative Therapy, Ego-State Therapy, Play Therapy, and trauma-informed approaches such as Somatic Experiencing®.
Julia’s client-centered and mindfulness-based techniques are key to her supportive approach. In addition to her primary role as a psychologist for Ministry of Education in New Zealand where she has been based since 2019, she also enjoys offering therapeutic counseling through the Springhealth mental health app as a global provider in both New Zealand and South Africa, where she remains a registered psychologist.
Passionate about empowering students and young people, Julia employs strength-based approaches like career counseling and study skills. She is a qualified MBTI® practitioner, and is pleased to offer this internationally recognised service in her career counselling assessments.
As a parent herself Julia has a deep interest in supporting students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and anxiety, helping them discover their strengths and develop resilience.
She is particularly compassionate towards parents navigating the educational journey with neurodiverse children, and always feels a sense of joy when thriving can still feel in reach. She is experienced in special assessment concessions and accommodations, having worked extensively with the South Africa’s Independent Examination Board and now also looking to offer support for Cambridge Examination Board and NZQA special assessment conditions. Julia also enjoys providing support through programs like the evidence-based Tuning into Kids and Teens Parenting Courses®, where she is a registered facilitator with the University of Melbourne.
After working as a psychologist since 2006, Julia has developed extensive knowledge in managing sensory processing difficulties, autistic spectrum tendencies, ADHD, and severe anxiety and trauma. In addition to her counseling and assessment skills, Julia is a competent trainer, offering professional development for teachers, parents, students, and carers. Through her dedication to empowering clients and her passion for career counseling, she has developed workshops like her comprehensive Study Skills Workshop for High School Students.
Julia is available for assessment appointments, brief therapeutic interventions, or advice and guidance sessions. She offers her services for EduPsych in private practice over weekends or online after hours. Client bookings are prioritised through partnering agencies such as Dyslexia plus and SpringHealth.
Sean Thompson
Director of Operations
Sean, an IT expert with a remarkable career spanning roles at Apple and Audi/VW Group, co-founded EduPsych alongside Julia after being inspired by her passion for helping others.
As a founding owner, Sean oversees all daily operations, including systems management, data security, and financial and growth planning.
With a background in running several businesses, including an IT company in Kerikeri, Sean brings invaluable expertise in building custom backend systems and websites. His innovative systems keep EduPsych on track and streamline client interactions.
In addition to his IT prowess, Sean has dedicated years to working with the MATES programs, a suicide awareness initiative that supports businesses and individuals in getting help to those in need. As one of the founding members of MATES in Tairawhiti, Sean has been involved in driving the program’s mission forward. Now, he continues his impactful work with MATES in Construction in Northland, ensuring that those who need help can access it.
Aligned closely with Julia’s vision, Sean’s personal journey with ADHD fuels his passion for supporting children with similar experiences. His empathy and dedication stem from his own childhood with ADHD, Ritalin, and his struggles at school, driving his commitment to help kids feel understood. Sean is the backbone of EduPsych, ensuring seamless operations and supporting Julia’s mission to reach and assist as many families as possible. Known for his generosity, Sean is always on a mission to give and support in any way he can.
Upcoming Events:
Neurodiversity & Learning Difficulties
Join us online
March 20th, 2025 - 7:30pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a learning assessment benefit my child?
A learning assessment can provide useful information into a unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses, or rather areas of development, which can provide helpful information into potential and in identifying any barriers that may need to either be addressed or accommodated in order to better reach potential.
As a trained therapist Julia the process of assessment can be helpful in guiding a child to understand their brain and themselves better. This can help inform and guide new pathways and planning in appropriate educational planning and support.
How can a career assessment benefit myself or my child or teen?
A career assessment does not provide an answer as to what career you should do, but it can identify which careers might be more suited to your personality, abilities, interests, and values, as well as understanding what and who might be influencing you into a certain career path and why. This kind of assessment can help you make an informed and considered choice in line with your intrinsic and extrinsic influences. The process of career assessment can be a helpful step in guiding you on your career journey.
How long does an assessment take?
Learning assessments take around 90 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the purpose of the assessment such as for diagnosis of learning difficulty or for special assessment conditions, and depending on the energy levels of the child.
Career assessments can also vary depending on what questions you would like answered. All assessments also include an intake session of approximately 1 hour, and a feedback session of approximately 1 hours.
Where will the assessment take place:
Julia is currently based in Whangarei, and usually aims to complete the intake and feedback sessions online.
Actual learning assessments are still managed in person, and we use the offices of Whangarei heads counselling in Ritchie road, Parua Bay. Julia has also managed some assessments and feedback as part of home visits upon request. Career assessments can also be completed online.
How long are assessments valid for?
Assessments are usually valid for around 2-3 years, depending on the age of the child or adolescent.
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Contact:
Info@EduPsych.co.nz
Whangarei, Northland
New Zealand