Business Details
9 Years
experience
Clinical Psychology Services in Edinburgh
Prime Psychology is a specialist clinical psychology practice based in Edinburgh, offering evidence-based assessment and therapeutic interventions for children, adolescents, adults, and families. With over two decades of combined experience, our team of HCPC-registered and BPS-chartered professionals delivers tailored support for emotional, behavioural, and mental health difficulties, including autism spectrum condition (ASC) assessments. We utilise integrative therapeutic approaches such as CBT, EMDR, and MBT, alongside multidisciplinary collaboration, to address complex needs across developmental stages.Our services extend to clinical supervision, expert witness testimony, and post-diagnostic support, ensuring comprehensive care aligned with NICE and SIGN guidelines. Committed to ethical practice, we maintain rigorous professional standards while offering flexible session formats, including online and telephone consultations.
Services
Psychological Assessments
Autism Spectrum Assessments
Therapy Sessions
Clinical Supervision
Expert Witness Services
Details
- Year established: 2017
Highlights and features
- HCPC-registered and BPS-chartered clinical psychologists with 20+ years' experience
- Multidisciplinary team specialising in autism assessments and complex mental health
- Evidence-based therapies including CBT, EMDR, and MBT tailored to individual needs
- NICE and SIGN guideline-compliant autism spectrum condition assessments
- Flexible service delivery with online, telephone, and in-person consultations
Associations and certifications
- British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Services
Psychological Assessments
Our comprehensive psychological assessments identify emotional, behavioural, and cognitive difficulties across all age groups. Using standardised tools like ADOS-2 and ADI-R, we diagnose conditions such as autism spectrum disorder while considering co-occurring challenges. Each assessment includes detailed reporting with tailored recommendations for ongoing support.
Autism Spectrum Assessments
We conduct multidisciplinary autism assessments for children aged 3+ and adults, following NICE and SIGN guidelines. The process involves developmental history reviews, observational assessments, and feedback sessions with detailed reports to facilitate access to appropriate support services.
Therapy Sessions
Tailored therapeutic interventions address anxiety, trauma, depression, and neurodivergent needs using evidence-based approaches like CBT, EMDR, and MBT. Sessions incorporate play-based methods for younger clients and focus on building emotional regulation skills and resilience across individual, family, and group formats.
Clinical Supervision
We provide expert clinical supervision to psychologists and mental health practitioners, supporting professional development and ethical practice. Our supervision framework integrates reflective practice models to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and practitioner well-being.
Expert Witness Services
Our psychologists offer independent expert testimony for family court proceedings, including child protection cases and custody disputes. We produce court-compliant reports based on rigorous psychological assessments to inform legal decision-making processes.
People
Dr Tara Pennington-Twist
Director & Consultant Clinical Psychologist
BPS-chartered and HCPC-registered Consultant Clinical Psychologist with 20+ years' experience in child & adolescent mental health. Specialises in trauma therapy, autism assessments, and expert witness testimony. Holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Edinburgh University.
Dr Claudia Coelho
Senior Clinical Psychologist
HCPC-registered clinical psychologist with 25 years' experience in adult mental health. Offers integrative therapy combining MBT, CBT, and EMDR. Provides specialist supervision and consultation to healthcare professionals across NHS and private sectors.
Valerie Caird
Psychotherapist
BACP-registered psychotherapist with expertise in play therapy for children and adolescents. Holds advanced qualifications from the University of Edinburgh. Specialises in family therapy and supporting parents to improve child communication.
Rhona McAlpine
Occupational Therapist
HCPC-registered Specialist Occupational Therapist with 13 years' experience in child & adolescent mental health. Focuses on sensory integration, emotional regulation, and supporting neurodivergent children through practical, family-centred interventions.
Ali Laslett
Addiction Therapist
BACP-registered addiction therapist specialising in substance abuse and compulsive behaviours. Uses evidence-based models to address psychological, biological, and social factors in addiction recovery for older adolescents and adults.
Questions
What age groups do you work with?
We support clients from infancy through adulthood, including specialist services for children, adolescents, and adults with neurodivergent conditions.
Do you offer autism assessments for adults?
Yes, we provide comprehensive autism spectrum condition assessments for adults of any age using NICE and SIGN guideline-compliant methods.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
Our psychologists utilise evidence-based therapies including CBT, EMDR, MBT, and trauma-focused interventions tailored to individual client needs.
Are your services available online?
Yes, we offer flexible session formats including online and telephone consultations alongside in-person appointments at our Edinburgh clinic.
Can you provide expert reports for court?
Our HCPC-registered psychologists offer expert witness services and court-compliant psychological assessments for family law proceedings.
How do I book an assessment?
Contact us via phone or email to discuss your needs. We'll arrange an initial consultation to determine the most appropriate assessment pathway.
