26/10/2025
🔴Clearing up the gossip.🔴
Yes, I’ve heard the rumours!
Apparently, I’ve been “claiming” to be a registered Educational Psychologist.
Let’s clear that up; clearly and respectfully.
I am not a registered Educational Psychologist.
I have never claimed to be one.
I am a Specialist Educational Practitioner; a certified and accredited professional trained to assess and support learning, behaviour, and autism for educational purposes.
In the United States, this work is called Educational Therapy. Here in Aotearoa, it is emerging under roles like mine.
I hold two postgraduate degrees and bring over 25 years of experience in schools; often in leadership roles.
My formal training includes:
• Functional Behaviour Assessment
• Ecological Assessment
• Educational psychology theory (via a Postgraduate Certificate paper)
• Inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices
There’s more I could add; but let’s keep this focused.
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So, where’s the confusion coming from?
Likely from the fact that I’ve studied educational psychology, but I am not a registered clinical psychologist.
That’s a fair misunderstanding; but let’s not twist it.
I’m not an Ed Psych.
I’m not a nurse.
I’m not a fireman.
I am something else entirely. And what I do is valid and essential in ensuring that students thrive.
I do not carry out clinical diagnostics.
But yes; my role allows me to formulate diagnostic impressions for educational planning purposes, which are valid within school systems and recognised for funding and support frameworks.
I work for students; with teachers; and alongside families to understand how learning and behaviour show up in real classrooms.
I do not pretend to be anything I am not. I am direct. I call things as they are. And yes, that might make some people uncomfortable. But I am not here to protect outdated comfort zones.
When clinical input is needed, I pass my findings to the professionals who handle that space. They value my work.
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The bigger issue isn’t my job title.
It is the motivation behind the gatekeeping and gossip.
Let’s be honest; this kind of noise only fuels a system that is already stretched and struggling.
The Ministry of Education’s own Learning Support Delivery Model (2020) recommends using specialist providers like me.
But the system is slow to adapt.
And too often, some schools — not all, but some — would rather reject a new service than rethink how support could look.
If people are more focused on tearing others down than building their kete of support services, perhaps they are in the wrong room.
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I am not new to this work.
And while my role may be unfamiliar, it is filling a gap the system created.
So yes, I am clearing up the gossip.
But more importantly, I am getting on with the work.
Because while others whisper, I am still showing up.
👉 includemenz.com/ourwho
Phillipa Biggs (Hechter)
