Meet The Team
Contact Edpsych for tailored, positive solutions if your child is struggling to progress academically or adapt to school and home expectations.
Alisha Bliss
Educational Psychologist
Robyn Stead
Educational Psychologist
Sue Hamilton
Educational Psychologist
I grew up in Auckland and completed my primary, intermediate, and college education on the North Shore, before relocating to West Harbour recently.
Before becoming an educational psychologist, I spent eight years as a primary school teacher, during which I became a syndicate leader for Years 1–2 and Years 2–3. Throughout this time, I gained invaluable experience working with students who required significant additional support, including high-risk learners and their families and whānau.
I have a deep passion for supporting students who find school challenging and may need further clarity, strategies, or tailored interventions to help them reach their full potential.
With extensive experience collaborating with schools, I specialise in providing guidance, support, and clear communication regarding students' learning needs. My goal is to work closely with educators and families to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed.
Qualifications
Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (Primary)
Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology
Current Teaching Registration
Crisis Prevention Institute – Registered Instructor Sexual Violence Prevention – Trained Facilitator (Years 9–13) Incredible Years Teacher
Training FAN (Facilitating Attuned Interactions)Trained
Child Protection Studies Programme - complete
Recent Activities
Treasurer, The Institute of Educational and Developmental Psychology (IEDP)
Traumatic Incident Team Participant,
The Mayfield Project 2023 (link)
I grew up on the Kapiti Coast just north of Wellington. After High School I attended Massey University, in Palmerston North. During 12 years living, and working in the UK, Europe and the USA I trained as an English teacher, and a Special Education teacher, completed a Masters degree in Special Education, got married and had two children.
On return to New Zealand, I trained as an Educational Psychologist and Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour and gained further experience in primary, intermediate and secondary education. Highlights from working as Practice Leader in the RTLB service include, training a wide range of schools in Positive Behaviour for Learning for the Auckland Metro area, developing an intervention to support oral language in new entrant students and collaborating with Ministry of Education to develop a transition to school programme. I thoroughly enjoy working in private practice.
Qualifications:BA, MEd Special Ed, Post Grad Dip Ed Psych,
New Zealand Registered Educational Psychologist
Experienced Teacher in New Zealand and the USA
Trained Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour.
Located in Mt Eden, Auckland.
I am a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society and a past chair of the Institute of Educational and Developmental Psychology (Chair from 2020-2023).
I am from the United Kingdom and I came to New Zealand 21 years ago with my young family for a 2 year ‘experience’. We loved the country and as you can see have stayed ever since! Our two young boys are now strapping lads of 24 and 21 years.
My birthplace is the renowned and beautiful university town of Cambridge in England and I still return when I can.
Following my initial degree that linked Psychology and Education, I taught for 8 years in middle schools (similar to intermediate schools) and a special education unit in a secondary school. I then returned to study Educational Psychology and worked for 5 years for Birmingham Educational Psychology Service.
When I came to New Zealand I was employed by the Ministry of Education and have worked in many areas of South Auckland from Howick through to Papakura with children with additional needs, primarily presenting with behavioural issues but often this masks their underlying learning needs.
Over the years I have had diverse opportunities to work in many areas outside of my core work of assessment and intervention with early childhood centres, schools and families. I have worked with schools on improving inclusive practices, served as an Education representative on a multi-agency group to meet the needs of vulnerable children; delivered many incredible years parenting programmes, supported schools and early childhood centres when faced with traumatic incidents. More recently I have been working with some of the Kotahi te Whakaaro students.
I am excited by the opportunity to start to dip my toes into some private practice work and use my skills in a different way.
Qualifications
BSc Integrated Psychology and Education Honours Degree, 1986
Post graduate Certificate in Education, 1986
Masters in Educational Psychology, 1995
Accredited Incredible Years Facilitator, 2017
Triple P trained, 2014
Toolbox Parenting Courses, Parenting Place, Greenlane, 2020
Supervisor of intern psychology students 2017- present day
Member of the Ministry of Education Traumatic Incident Team for 14 years
Testimonials
Testimonials
What our customers are saying
Your cognitive/educational assessment is a really great overview of functioning and is helpful for the school to hopefully use some strategies to ensure that our child doesn't get overwhelmed.
It is so easy to put all the difficulties down to trauma and attachment, when in fact there are some cognitive strengths and weaknesses that need to be catered for. So it was really helpful to get that report and make sure that side of her needs are being responded to :).
Alisha was fantastic and helped our child feel comfortable straight away. The testing went really smoothly.
I recommend the follow up meeting to clarify anything from the report. There is a lot of information to understand. Our child is now loving school! Trying out for singing in the rock band!
Alisha immediately made a connection with our child who then felt safe and comfortable in her company.
Alisha put our child’s mind at ease, and she thoughtfully answered any questions about the assessment.
Thanks Alisha - we really appreciated your hard work.
Wow thank you so much Sue, that was a lot of time and effort on your behalf! It is a relief to understand finally what is going on for our child. We have been waiting for this for a very long time!
Awesome Sue, thanks SO much for your warm and exceptional service. You really have made us/and our child feel very comfortable and hoping it will help get her some help and extra guidance for her future. We HIGHLY recommend your thorough work.
I found working with Robyn very easy. She was excellent with communication and very accommodating. During our face-to-face, she broke information down in a way that was understandable to parents. She made all parties involved feel relaxed - I think this is potentially a difficult thing to do, given the delicate nature of some of the things we discussed.
Clarified and gave evidence to support our thoughts around a student, aided parents to come to terms with the academic capabilities/strengths/weaknesses of their child.
All of the Edpsych team are Registered with the NZ Psychologists Board in the Educational Scope.
We are also members of the NZ Psychological Society and the Institute of Educational and Developmental Psychology.
Professional Connections
