Dr. Tamasine Black
Who we are
As a vibrant and expanding team of passionate professionals, our innovative and unique approach is all about finding the right fit.
By helping to identify, understand and support, in a way that works best for each individual, we want to help the children and families we work with to live happy, balanced lives.
Through our combined backgrounds in educational psychology and clinical psychology, we are able to offer a comprehensive range of assessment, therapeutic solutions and support for a broad range of needs.
Meet the team
Dr. Tamasine Black
Lead Educational and Child Psychologist and Tabla Psychology Founder
I’m Tamasine and I have over 20 years of experience working with children and families. I trained as an Educational Psychologist so I have a lot of experience of child development, education and inclusion. I have extensive additional additional training in lifespan autism and ADHD assessment and I am passionate about the superpowers that neurodiversity can bring. I believe that by finding out individual strengths and needs, and offering evidence based solutions and support, we can make a real difference. I founded Tabla Psychology in order to bring together all aspects of supporting children, families and adults to thrive with neurodiversity.
Dr. Neha Matharu
Clinical Psychologist
Neha has worked in the NHS and private sector for over twenty years and has experience of working across the lifespan. She has substantial experience of completing specialist psychological assessments, cognitive assessments, autism assessments, ADHD assessment and medico-legal reports. She provides consultation to organisations and supervision to staff teams specifically related to Autism and ADHD service delivery and the clinical efficacy of assessments.
Dr Victoria (Vicki) Russ
Clinical Psychologist
I’m Vicki, and I qualified as a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Southampton. I am also an accredited cognitive behaviour therapist and supervisor, and a practitioner in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I have over 13 years’ experience of conducting neuropsychological, Autism and ADHD assessments within the NHS and in charitable organisations. I strongly believe that psychology assessments and intervention should be collaborative, empowering, and strengths-focused. Alongside Tabla, I work in NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) where I hold a senior clinical psychologist position, specialising in working with children who have experienced trauma. I have also published peer-reviewed research in the fields of autism, learning disabilities and mental health.
James Turley
Specialist Teacher (QTS), Specialist Assessor & ADHD Specialist
James is a Qualified Teacher (QTS), Specialist Teacher and Specialist Assessor with extensive experience supporting children with ADHD, learning needs and regulation differences. He has worked across primary settings and has developed specialist skills in assessment, SEND-informed intervention, and play-based approaches that help children feel safe, regulated and understood.
James contributes to Tabla Psychology’s multidisciplinary team under the governance of HCPC-registered psychologists, providing learning, attention and skills-based assessments, as well as practical strategies that empower families, young people and schools. His practice is grounded in curiosity, compassion and practical strategies that support regulation, confidence and engagement.
Nathan Duncan
Practice Manager
Nathan is our Practice Manager and the first friendly point of contact for families beginning their journey with Tabla Psychology.
With over three years of dedicated experience in our service, he brings a calm, reassuring presence to every interaction. Thoughtful, caring, and deeply compassionate, Nathan supports parents with patience, clarity, and genuine warmth, helping them feel grounded and understood from the very first conversation. He guides families through each step of the process with diligence and empathy, ensuring they feel fully supported and well-informed throughout their time with us.
Marta Mendes
Educational Psychologist
Marta Mendes is an Educational Psychologist who works with Tabla Psychology on Tribunal-specific assessments, alongside Dr Tamasine Black.
Marta is known for her caring, warm, and deeply empathetic approach, combined with strong clinical expertise. She has particular strengths in working with neurodivergent children and young people, and brings a thoughtful, trauma-informed lens to her work, always considering the wider context of a child’s experiences, relationships, and environment.
Her practice is grounded in inclusion, careful observation, and a deep respect for each child’s individuality. Marta’s assessments are clear, balanced, and sensitive, supporting a fair and accurate understanding of a child’s needs within educational and legal contexts.
She works collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, contributing high-quality psychological assessment and formulation to support Tribunal and complex SEND cases.
Victoria Kennedy
SEND Parent Consultant
Victoria Kennedy works with Tabla Psychology as a SEND Parent Consultant, supporting parents to navigate SEND systems with greater clarity, confidence, and calm.
Parents consistently describe Victoria as warm, highly knowledgeable, and exceptionally clear. She has a talent for explaining complex SEND processes in a way that feels manageable and reassuring, helping families understand their options and next steps without pressure or escalation.
Victoria provides short-term, parent-focused consultancy sessions, offering practical guidance around SEND processes, paperwork, and decision-making. Her work is non-clinical and sits alongside — but separate from — our psychology-led assessment and diagnostic services.
Nikki Hammal
SEND Specialist
Nikki supports children, young people and families with emotional regulation, anxiety, sensory needs, behaviour and school engagement. She provides child and parent support sessions, PDA-informed strategies, and outreach work. Nikki carries out school observations under the supervision of HCPC-registered psychologists and is a key member of the Tabla Psychology MDT.
Freddie
Tabla Psychology Service Dog
I’m Freddie and I’m a Maltese Bichon Frise cross. I will be 2 years old at my next birthday! My role at Tabla Psychology is to help break the ice and make everyone feel welcome and ease the moment they arrive. I like tummy tickles, treats and chasing things. Sometimes I bark at the door but I am superfriendly and love to cuddle everyone.
