Hello from me!

Get to know me, by reading on...
It's written interview-style, so you can pick and choose what you want to read.

What is your current role?

I actually have three different roles, because I’m highly motivated by variety and novelty:

I’m a Local Authority Senior EP with a small patch of schools, a great bunch of EPs to supervise and plenty of exciting strategic project work.
I’m an Academic and Professional Tutor for the DEdPsy course at IOE. I love the buzz of teaching and supervising TEPs.
On Fridays, I offer coaching for EPs seeking career growth and change. And I am privileged to collaborate with some brilliant brains to deliver various trainings and exciting events.

What do you love most about your work?

I love making a difference through helping conversations, such as coaching, supervision and consultation. I think you can really feel it when something shifts in a positive direction for the person.

I also get inspired by opportunities to collaborate with others, innovate and create, and to experiment with doing things differently.

What are your favourite psychological approaches?

Ooh it’s hard to choose! I’d say Motivational Interviewing, Coaching Psychology and Solution-Focused Psychology. Oh and don’t forget Positive Psychology, of course!

What is your mission as The Ed Psych Coach?

My mission is to create positive, inspiring spaces for EPs to grow, connect and flourish, so that we can really make a difference.

Why did you set up as The Ed Psych Coach?

My own experiences of receiving coaching and MI have been transformative. Shout outs to John and Hayley! They’ve helped me clarify what’s important to me (my values), identify my strengths, goals and aspirations, overcome hurdles and make plans (that actually work for me), as well as giving accountability.

I feel like so many other EPs could benefit from this kind of coaching, and from someone who totally ‘gets’ the EP world. I wanted to give back, so I set up as The Ed Psych Coach and I’m absolutely loving this work!

What credentials and qualifications do you have?

See full list below. Last year (2023-2024) was a big year for me: I achieved getting BPS Chartership as a Coaching Psychologist and I completed training to become a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).

What are your current passion projects?

So many things! My top few currently are MI-themed:

Delivering MI training with the fab Dr Cathy Atkinson
Developing my MI coaching package for EPs
Creating an MI self-coaching workbook for EPs thinking about career change and growth
In my LA work, running and evaluating a project to train and supervise school-based staff to deliver an MI-based intervention with young people experiencing disaffection and disengagement from school.

What is important to you outside of work?

I love spending quality time with my husband, friends and family, including being outdoors, hiking, camping, eating out, arts and crafts, festivals and travelling adventures.

I like to rotate different hobbies! Here’s some that I’ve enjoyed: painting, dress-making, body pump classes, boxing, woodwork, furniture up-cycling and ‘playing’ the trombone. Oh and I love DIY - especially painting and anything with a power tool!

Thanks for getting to know me!

Check out my blog

Check out my resources

Dr Fiona Coley

Chartered Coaching Psychologist (BPS)
Chartered Senior Educational Psychologist (BPS)
Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers
Registered with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist
Member of British Psychology Society:
- Division of Child and Educational Psychology (DECP)
- Division of Coaching Psychology (DoCP)
- Special Group for Independent Practitioners (SGIP)

Qualifications and Experience

Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (University of Birmingham, 2012-2015)
Post-Graduate Certificate in Primary Education (University of Cambridge)
BSc Psychology first class honours degree (University of Portsmouth)
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Training for New Trainers and Forum (MINT in Copenhagen, 6 days)
Certificate in Coaching (Centre for Coaching, 5 days)
Primary certificate in Positive Psychology Coaching (Centre for Coaching, 2 days)
Essential supervision skills (BPS, 2 days)
20+ years’ experience in education (early years, primary teaching, ASD teaching and educational psychology)

Hello from me!

Get to know me, by reading on...It's written interview-style, so you can pick and choose what you want to read.