An Edge Hill University placement, a panel discussion with Roman Kemp and a passion for supporting neurodivergent people have helped shape the career of alumna Olivia Rosa Izzo, who has gone on to co-found a growing psychological assessment and therapy company operating across the UK and Spain.
Olivia studied the MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling with Creative Approaches at Edge Hill, a course that immediately stood out to her because of its unique approach. For Olivia, her placements were among the highlights of her time at university, providing opportunities that she says “truly shaped me into the clinician I am.”
One of those opportunities came through her placement with Tackling the Blues, where she had the chance to take part in a mental-health discussion alongside broadcaster Roman Kemp. Olivia describes the experience as a formative moment, demonstrating to her the power of open conversations about mental health.
Olivia said: “I had the opportunity to take part in a talk alongside Roman Kemp, something that came about entirely through the University’s connections. Looking back, it was a formative moment that showed me how powerful open conversations about mental health can be.”
Her Edge Hill experience also took her beyond the University campus. During the summer, Olivia worked at Tate Liverpool, providing a creative therapies room for the community — another opportunity she credits the University with helping to facilitate.
After completing her MSc, Olivia began her career at Abbots Lea, an autism and additional needs school in Liverpool, where she worked as the sole psychotherapist. Working alongside an occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and behavioural analyst strengthened her belief in the importance of multidisciplinary support for neurodivergent people.
She later made the move to Dubai, joining a psychiatry and therapy clinic where she works primarily with autistic and ADHD clients. The move proved to be a significant turning point in her professional journey.
Olivia said: “I felt an instant connection with the company from the first conversation. Moving to Dubai and working with them has helped me grow enormously, both as a person and as a clinician.”
It was also in Dubai that Olivia met Dr Rachael Phillips, who would become her business partner.
Together, they co-founded Gold Standard Psychological Assessments (GSPA), a neurodiverse assessment and therapy company designed around a vision that is particularly personal to Olivia.
As someone who is neurodivergent herself, Olivia wanted to create a service where neurodivergent people could receive thorough, joined-up support — with particular attention to girls and women, who she believes are too often missed or misdiagnosed.
The company has grown into a multidisciplinary team bringing together adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy and educational psychology.
For Olivia, bringing these professionals together under one roof is central to the company’s approach.
Olivia explains: “Having worked in multidisciplinary teams, I know how important it is to have different perspectives when supporting neurodivergent people. No single discipline has the full picture on its own.”
GSPA aims to support people throughout their journey, from assessment through to therapy and advocacy, rather than requiring clients to navigate a series of disconnected services.
Olivia’s ambition is to create an environment where neurodivergent people — both clients and clinicians — feel genuinely understood.
Olivia said: “What I’m hoping to achieve is simple: a service where neurodivergent people, whether they’re clients or clinicians, feel understood rather than accommodated as an afterthought.”
The company’s work currently spans the UK and Spain, while Olivia continues to work in Dubai. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue expanding GSPA and ultimately become part of the NHS Right to Choose pathway, making its services accessible to even more people.
A particular priority is supporting neurodivergent families, as well as girls and women, and changing the conversation around what happens after a diagnosis.
“A diagnosis should never be the end point,” says Olivia. “There should always be a pathway forward, whether that’s aftercare, support in the workplace, or support in school.”
Looking back at her time at Edge Hill, Olivia credits the University with giving her the opportunities, experiences and confidence that helped her develop professionally.
She identifies three key qualities she gained from her degree: confidence, empathy and courage.
Olivia concludes: “I really enjoyed my placements and felt they truly shaped me into the clinician I am. The Tackling the Blues placement was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am forever grateful for it.”
Her advice to anyone considering studying at Edge Hill is simple: “Go for it. I had such a good experience and felt super supported by my peers and the staff.”
From her early experiences at Edge Hill and a memorable conversation about mental health with Roman Kemp, to her work with neurodivergent clients in Dubai and the creation of a company spanning three countries, Olivia’s journey demonstrates how opportunities during university can become the foundations for a much bigger career story.
Find out more about studying at Edge Hill University.
Photo credit: Amy Caddick, Gold Standard.
September 14, 2026
