Meet The EPIC Team
Dr Paula Hopkins
C.Psychol. – Principal Educational Psychologist
A Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a full member of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology. Paula is registered with the professional body HCPC, allowing her to practice as an applied psychologist. Paula has twenty-one years’ experience as an educational psychologist and has worked as a Senior Practitioner Educational Psychologist with Leicestershire County Council and as an EP with Gloucestershire County Council before establishing EPIC in 2015. Paula is the service lead and director of EPIC and has key interests in children’s mental health (particularly anxiety), attachment and relationships, working memory and social processing. Paula has published research articles on group work and nurturing classrooms and is hoping to publish future articles from her doctoral research into class teachers’ perceptions and approaches to children’s anxiety.
Dr Melanie Shirley
C.Psychol. – Senior Educational Psychologist
Mel is a highly experienced Educational Psychologist. She has worked for over twenty years with children and young people between the ages of 0-25 supporting a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Working with local authorities as an Educational Psychologist and Specialist Senior; she has also worked at Loughborough University before joining EPIC on a permanent basis. Mel is committed to identifying solutions for individual needs; overcoming barriers and enabling achievement. She specialises in autism and sensory needs as well as having key interests in attachment and relationships and mental health. Mel Has expertise in delivering person-centred integrative psycho-therapy incorporating CBT, Narrative Therapy and Solution Focus Brief Therapy.
Dr Nicola Pereira
Educational Psychologist
Nicola is an experienced Educational Psychologist from South Africa. She worked in a school context in South Africa as well as in private practice, with a focus on supporting young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. Nicola is committed to working with young people in diverse settings with the aim of providing connection and support to ensure a successful academic journey for individuals. Nicola is interested in developing relationships with all stakeholders to support young people in their academic and personal journeys. Life long learning is important to Nicola and she is always willing to gain new experiences. She is excited to be working in the United Kingdom with the EPIC team.
Alison Orton
Administrator
After graduating from Leicester University Alison embarked on a career within the financial services sector working for large corporate banks. Her career has involved qualifying as a finance advisor and latterly developing training materials, delivering courses to all levels of employees, to supervision and undertaking audits. After having a small career break to have her children Alison returned to work in a customer focused busy office environment dealing with clients and the public through all media channels.
Alison has always had an interest in child development and a desire to help them build confidence and be the best that they can be. This interest was nurtured through her long-term involvement with the Guide Association as a group Leader and Camp Advisor. Alison also has experience working within the EYFS.
Jess Gray
Assistant Psychologist
After studying Psychology at A-Level Jess was excited to study BSc Psychology at the University of Leicester, where she graduated with First Class Honours. Jess then worked as a learning support assistant in a junior school where she supported children with both SEN and SEMH needs. Jess also gained experience supporting older adults in a care home, as a support worker in a neurorehabilitation centre for people with brain injuries, and as a volunteer within an NHS psychology service for people living with pain. She is now working as an assistant psychologist at EPIC. Her interests include adverse childhood experiences, alternative communication, and attachment.
Maddy Tite
Assistant Psychologist
Maddy developed a passion for Psychology during her A-Levels, which led her to study BSc (Hons) Psychology at the University of Nottingham, graduating with First Class Honours. She continued her studies at the same university, completing an MSc in Developmental Disorders to deepen her understanding of neurodevelopmental differences. Alongside her studies, Maddy gained experience in a range of educational and developmental settings, including schools, nurseries, and sports development programmes, where she saw the real-world impact of applying psychological principles. As a neurodivergent individual, Maddy has experienced first-hand the positive impact that feeling understood and well-supported can have, and this has inspired her commitment to creating inclusive environments where others can thrive. She is excited to be working at EPIC, where she hopes to build on her knowledge and experience, with the long-term goal of pursuing doctoral training to become an Educational Psychologist.
Keziah Chadwick
Psychology Services Assistant (University Placement)
Keziah is an undergraduate Psychology student at Loughborough University. Having studied Psychology at A-level, she developed a strong interest in developmental psychology, which had inspired her to further develop her knowledge at university. There she learnt about educational psychology and became a research assistant for a mathematics experiment with Year 1s. She is eager to further explore the role of educational psychologists and gain valuable experience through her work with EPIC, with the aim of pursuing a doctorate in educational psychology in the future. Her current interests include adverse childhood experiences, ASD, ADHD, and strategies to support learners in the classroom.
Testimonials From Previous Assistants:
