EXPERT PROFILE

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, HEAD OF SEN AND ACADEMIC ARCHITECTURE

Dr. Thayalani Narayanasamy Gomez

Child & Adolescent Psychologist | Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Autism, ADHD & Special Educational Needs

Core Guiding Philosophy

“See the individual. Strengthen the ecosystem.”

Understanding the person beyond the diagnosis while strengthening the families, educators and systems around them.

01 · About & Background

Dr. Thayalani Narayanasamy Gomez is a highly accomplished Child and Adolescent Psychologist specialising in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as Special Educational Needs (SEN).

With over 20 years of multidisciplinary experience across clinical practice, special education, early intervention, higher education and professional training, her career reflects a rare depth of specialisation in the field.

Over the course of her career, she has held a range of specialist, therapeutic and leadership roles, including Head of Special Educational Needs, Head of Training and Autism Specialist, SEN Advisor and Psychology Lecturer, and Curriculum & Inclusive Education Consultant — a trajectory that reflects both clinical depth and institutional leadership.

02 · Credentials, Memberships & Key Focus

Formal Qualifications & Practice Domains

CREDENTIALS & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

10 Accreditations & Degrees

PhD in Philosophy – Psychology (Neurodevelopmental Disorders) - University of Liverpool, UK
MBA (Master of Business Administration) - Prifysgol Cymru, University of Wales, UK
BSc in Counselling Psychology - California Hills University, USA
Psychodiagnostics & Psychological Assessments - Tomsk State University, Russia
ADHD in Children and Adolescents – Diagnosis & Assessment - APA, ASWB & NBCC Accredited, USA
Certified Psychologist - Knowledge Tree (CPD & IPHM Accredited)
CBT Practitioner & Master Trainer – IgPPA accredited, UK
IBCCES Certified Trainer in Autism – IBCCES accredited, US
HRDC Accredited Trainer , Msia
International Accredited Training Provider – IAOTH

Professional Memberships

10 Associations & Councils

Autism Research Institute (ARI) - USA
American Psychological Association (APA) - USA
British Psychological Society (BPS) - UK
European Psychiatric Association (EPA) - Europe
Malaysian Society of Psychology (MaSPA) - Malaysia
Psychology Society of Malaysia (PSIMA) - Malaysia
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) - USA
American Organization for Integrative Therapies & Health (AOITH) - USA
International Association of Therapist - USA
IGPPA - UK

Key Focus Areas

7 Specialised Fields

Child & Adolescent NeurodevelopmentAutism & Neurodivergent DevelopmentNeurodevelopmental, Psychological & Educational AssessmentEarly Identification & Early InterventionSpecial Educational Needs (SEN) & Inclusive EducationIndividualised Learning & Intervention PathwaysSEN & Psychology Curriculum & Programme Development

03 · Mentorship & Professional Foundation

Foundational Influences

“Her practice has been shaped under the mentorship of internationally respected figures in the field — Theo Peeters, Tan Sri Dr. Marimuthu, and Datuk Seri Dr. Prof. NS Rajendran — whose guidance continues to inform and inspire her clinical rigour and vision.”

04 · Career & Sustained Impact

This foundation has translated into sustained impact across clinical and educational domains.

287

Autistic Children TransitionedInto Mainstream Education (2010–2014)

Autism & Inclusive Education

Successfully transitioned 287 autistic children into mainstream education between 2010 and 2014, established Special Needs Departments and inclusive intervention frameworks in international schools, and designed specialised curriculum frameworks, assessment systems and professional training manuals for Autism, ADHD, SEN and Early Intervention.

Professional Training & Curriculum Development

Delivered national HRDC/HRDF-certified professional development programmes for educators and healthcare professionals, and lectured in Psychology and Special Education at the higher education level.

Clinical & Psychological Services

Conducted comprehensive psychological, developmental and behavioural assessments for children and adolescents, translating findings into individualised intervention plans and frameworks. Alongside this, she has developed an extensive portfolio of copyrighted assessment materials, tools and curricula.

05 · Professional Journey & Active Engagements

Institutional Leadership & Roles

Over the course of her career, Dr. Thayalani's work has extended across specialist, therapeutic, educational and leadership roles. These have included:

Head of Special Educational Needs

Head of Training and Autism Specialist

SEN Advisor

Psychology Lecturer

Curriculum & Inclusive Education Consultant

Together, these roles reflect a career that spans both direct clinical work and the development of wider educational and institutional systems.

Current Practice & Ongoing Engagements

Today, Dr. Thayalani continues to serve the public through assessment, intervention and consultancy work, while delivering workshops, retreats and professional training programmes across schools, healthcare, corporate and governmental agencies.

06 · Sanctuary Horizon & Lifelong Care

A Vision for Lifelong Support

She is also spearheading the establishment of a full-fledged centre built to serve the whole ecosystem of the special individual — a sanctuary for orphaned special children, dependent special adults and special elderly individuals.

The centre is designed to nurture each person along two pathways:

Pathway 01: Integration into Mainstream Society

Equipping those capable of integration with the training and support needed to transition into mainstream society.

Pathway 02: Seamless Lifelong Care

Providing seamless, lifelong care for those who require it.

The Story Behind the Work

But this distinguished career did not begin in a classroom or a clinic. It began at home.

Central to Dr. Thayalani's journey is her son, Calvin — not merely a part of her story, but its foundation.

Through him, she encountered firsthand the systemic inadequacies within educational frameworks, the often-unspoken challenges faced by families, and the pressing need for structured, compassionate intervention.

Rather than accept these limitations, she chose to confront them, reshaping her path around a singular vision:

“That no child should remain unseen, no parent unsupported, and no educator ill-equipped.”

For Dr. Thayalani, this work is neither incidental nor separate from who she is — it is deliberate, enduring and deeply personal, a legacy shared between a mother and her son, shaped by resilience, informed by understanding, and carried forward with quiet resolve.

“This work is not what I do. It is who I have become — because of Calvin.”

— Dr. Thayalani Narayanasamy Gomez

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