Specialist Assessment and Therapy for Children, Young People and their Families in West Lothian
Psychological Minds
Our highly experienced team offers expertise in child development, child and adolescent mental health, attachment, trauma, and neurodiversity. We provide individually tailored assessment and therapy for children and young people alongside parental support and guidance. We work collaboratively to make meaningful positive changes to daily life.
How we can help you:
We offer assessment and intervention for a range of behavioural and mental health difficulties. The list below is not exhaustive, so please get in touch if you want to know if we can help you.
We provide a range of specialist assessments and consultation to professionals about care experienced children and young people
For Parents:
Consultations for parents are offered as safe, supportive and reflective spaces to explore difficulties that a child or young person might be experiencing and what might be helpful going forward. These can be booked as “one-off” or “ad hoc” appointments or as a block for ongoing support.
Thinking about your child or young person and the best ways to understand and support them
Understanding specific challenges such as neurodiversity (e.g. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)) and developmental trauma
A safe space to think about your family and your experience of parenting
Exploration of the challenges associated with parenting
Difficulties with adjustment to parenthood
Parenting support and advice
Fostering and adoption support
For Children and Young People:
Psychological Minds provides assessment and intervention for a range of difficulties including:
Emotional Regulation
Stress
Anxiety/panic
Low mood/depression
Low self-esteem/confidence
Anger
Sleep
Behaviour
Toileting
Trauma
Attachment
Social Relationships
Neurodiversity, e.g. ADHD and/ or ASD. We offer pre and post diagnostic support.
Specialist Assessments:
We offer a range of specific highly specialised assessments including:
Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP)
The SSAP is a play-based assessment which allows therapists to explore a child’s current and past attachment experiences without directly questioning them, reducing anxiety or conflict. It is used with children aged 4–9 years.
Meaning of the Child Assessment
The Meaning of the Child (MotC) assessment examines how a parent perceives and relates to their child, helping to understand the child’s behaviour within the context of the relationship. Rooted in attachment theory, it sheds light on how past trauma, loss, or frightening experiences may affect parent–child interactions. The MotC can guide decisions about what support a family may need and is used across many settings, including family support, child protection, fostering and adoption, CAMHS, occupational therapy, and therapeutic services.
Specialist Occupational Therapy Assessment & Intervention
Occupational Therapy assessments focus on understanding how a child or young person is managing in their day to day life. Intervention promotes their function and well-being.
Occupational Therapy assessment focusses on all aspects of a child/young person’s functioning including, their emotional, cognitive, physical, sensory, and social skills; the things they find difficult; their routines and roles; interests, values and confidence in their abilities. This is particularly helpful for children and young people who have a diagnosis relating to neurodiversity, or as part of pre or post diagnostic support. Intervention and strategies are individualised to each child/young person. Reports can be provided to share with school and other professionals.
Play-based Occupational Therapy assessment is for primary school age children and aims to understand a child’s internal world. It is a psychodynamic approach that can help the child to process and integrate experiences and begin to put their thoughts and feelings into words.
