Dr Nicole Carvill on why paediatric psychology is about the heart and head

To wrap up season one of Moments in Mind, we meet Dr Nicole Carvill who runs Think Psychologists in Geelong, Australia. In conversation with host Andy McLean, Nicole shares some of the highlights from her decades working in the disability sector with neurodivergent children, young people, and their families and carers.
We learn about Nicole’s upbringing and how growing up with her late brother, who had a disability, gradually drew her towards specialising in her chosen field. She reflects on how becoming a parent to neurodivergent kids also influenced her professionally. And she explains what it means to run a warm and welcoming psychology clinic that views every child “through the lens of a psychologist and the heart of a parent”. 
Along the way, Nicole shares some practical insights for clinicians, educators and families, and explains how she gets the maximum benefit from standardised assessments – before, during and after they are conducted. Nicole also reflects on the additional impact she made as an educator with Pearson Clinical professional development. 

• Find out more about Moments in Mind
• Visit the Pearson Clinical Assessment website
• Learn more about Think Psychologists

Running order:

• 0:03:00 - Nicole explains how her family upbringing indirectly led her to pursue paediatric psychology in the disability sector
• 0:05:00 - Nicole explains what working memory is and why it’s so crucial for children
• 0:07:00 - Nicole discusses a courageous leap of faith in her career
• 0:09:00 - Nicole explains how becoming a parent changed her professional outlook
• 0:14:00 - Nicole explains how she carefully guides children and families through the assessment process
• 0:19:00 - Nicole reflects on her work with Pearson Professional Learning, and how that amplifies the impact she can have for educators, children, and families
• 0:20:20 - Nicole’s advice for professionals who are new to standardised assessments
• 0:21:30 - A breakthrough moment that changed the course of a teenager’s academic journey for the better
• 0:23:30 - Nicole reflects on the career moments she will always remember  

Disclaimer
Client details and narratives presented in this podcast have been altered or omitted to protect confidentiality and privacy. Any similarities to actual individuals, events, or circumstances are entirely coincidental. Each client interaction is unique, and the outcomes or breakthroughs described are specific to the individuals involved. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as guarantees or promises of similar results for others.