I'm Daphne, but I go by my middle name Thalia. I'm a Learning Support Educator with a background in Clinical Developmental Psychology, helping children build confidence, skills, and a love of learning. Based in Sintra, Portugal, available online worldwide.
Background
BSc Clinical Developmental Psychology — University of Amsterdam
iPGCE — University of Derby, commencing September 2026
Currently
Learning Support Educator at TASIS Portugal, Sintra
Personalised learning support for primary-age children, online and in person. Every child learns differently — my approach is tailored, warm, and grounded in psychology.
Reading & Literacy Support
Building strong reading foundations through phonics, comprehension strategies, and a love of stories. Tailored to each child's pace and learning style.
Primary AgeOnline & In-person
Maths Support
Making numbers feel approachable and fun. From foundational concepts to building confidence in problem-solving and mathematical thinking.
Primary AgeOnline & In-person
Executive Functioning Coaching
Supporting children with organisation, focus, planning and time management. Especially helpful for children with ADHD or attention challenges.
Primary AgePsychology-based
Emotional Regulation Support
Helping children understand and manage their emotions in healthy ways. Drawing on my psychology background to support the whole child.
Holistic ApproachPsychology-based
For Schools
Ms. Coffie brings a psychology-informed approach to learning support, built through hands-on co-teaching experience at TASIS Portugal, an international school where she works daily within IEPs, multi-disciplinary teams, and parent-teacher structures. She's equally comfortable adapting to a school's existing frameworks as she is helping shape new ones.
If you're exploring learning support partnerships or future collaboration, I'd welcome a conversation — daphnecoffie2112@gmail.com
Co-teaching & in-class support
Integrating smoothly alongside subject teachers without disrupting lesson flow
Individual learning support plans
Written and tracked in line with school documentation standards
Executive functioning programmes
Practical, psychology-based strategies for organisation, planning and focus
Parent consultation & guidance
Confident, clear communication that schools can stand behind
Multilingual support
English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamentu — and growing fluency in Portuguese for local context
Understanding Your Child
Every child is unique. Every challenge has a name.
As a parent, it can be hard to know whether what you're observing is typical development or something that needs extra support. This section is here to help you understand some of the most common challenges children face.
01
Executive Functioning
The brain's management system — and why some children need extra support developing it.
Click to read more
Executive functioning refers to a set of mental skills that help children plan, organise, start tasks, manage their time, and control impulses. Some children develop these skills more slowly than others, and that's okay.
What this might look like
Difficulty starting tasks, even when they want to
Forgetting instructions shortly after hearing them
Losing track of time or frequently running late
Struggling to organise belongings or workspace
Becoming overwhelmed by multi-step tasks
"These children are not being lazy or difficult. Their brains are simply still learning how to manage — and with the right support, they absolutely can."
02
Attention Difficulties & ADHD
More than just being distracted — understanding what's really happening for your child.
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Some children find it genuinely hard to maintain focus — not because they don't care, but because their brain processes information differently. Children with attention difficulties often have a lot of energy and creativity, but struggle to channel it in structured settings.
What this might look like
Difficulty staying focused on longer tasks
Acting impulsively — speaking out of turn
Becoming restless when expected to sit still
Starting many things but struggling to finish them
Performing better in one-to-one settings
"A diagnosis doesn't define your child. It simply helps us understand how their brain works — and how to support them in the way they deserve."
03
Emotional Regulation
Helping children understand and manage their feelings in healthy, constructive ways.
Click to read more
Emotional regulation is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one's own emotions. My background in Clinical Developmental Psychology means I approach this holistically — looking at the whole child, not just the behaviour.
What this might look like
Frequent or intense emotional outbursts
Difficulty calming down after becoming upset
Low frustration tolerance
Difficulty expressing feelings in words
Anxiety before school or social situations
"Behind every difficult behaviour is a feeling that hasn't found its words yet. My role is to help children find those words."
04
Autism & Learning
How individualised support makes a difference for autistic children.
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Autistic children often have unique strengths — deep focus, strong memory, creative thinking — alongside challenges in areas like social communication and sensory processing. I have direct experience supporting autistic children, including those with high support needs.
What this might look like
Preference for routine and difficulty with unexpected changes
Sensory sensitivities — to sound, light, or texture
Intense focus on specific topics or interests
Needing more time to process and respond
"Autism is not something to be fixed. It's a different way of experiencing the world — and my role is to help your child navigate it with confidence."
05
Reading & Learning Difficulties
When reading feels harder than it should — and what you can do.
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For some children, reading takes longer or feels significantly harder than for their peers. Whatever the root cause, early and consistent support makes a significant difference.
What this might look like
Reading slowly or hesitantly compared to peers
Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
Avoiding reading aloud or reading for pleasure
Fatigue or frustration after short reading tasks
"Reading difficulties are not a reflection of intelligence. With the right support, every child can grow into a confident reader."
06
Growing Up Multilingual
How language development works across multiple languages.
Click to read more
Many children in international settings grow up speaking multiple languages. This is a beautiful cognitive advantage — but it can come with temporary challenges sometimes mistaken for learning difficulties. As someone who speaks four languages myself, I understand these pressures personally.
What this might look like
Mixing languages within a sentence — normal and healthy
A silent period when starting a new language
Stronger skills in one language than others
Difficulty with reading in the school language
"Being multilingual is a gift. My role is to make sure language never becomes a barrier to your child's confidence."
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few quick questions about what you're noticing, and I'll point you toward the topic that seems most relevant.
Four places, one throughline. From a small island in the Caribbean to a quiet coast on the Atlantic.
↓ Scroll to begin
From
Curaçao
01 · Home
Born and raised on a small island in the Caribbean. The beginning of everything.
To
Miami
02 · 2016
My first step away from home, and the start of finding my own footing.
To
Amsterdam
03 · Second home
Where I studied Clinical Developmental Psychology — and where home stopped meaning just one place.
To
Portugal
04 · Now
A new adventure on the Atlantic coast — now helping little adventurers find their own footing.
Wherever I go, I carry all of it with me.
Book a Session
Free Discovery Call (30 min)
Whether you're not sure what you're seeing or already have a diagnosis, this call is a chance to talk it through and figure out next steps together. No obligation.
Available in Lisbon and Sintra area. Sessions held in a safe, welcoming environment tailored to your child's needs. Get in touch to discuss availability and rates.
After clicking "Schedule now" you'll be taken to my Calendly page where you can pick a time that works for you. Sessions are online via video call.
Get in touch to discuss rates and availability for in-person sessions.
My background is in psychology and learning support. I focus on understanding people, and acting on that understanding to support them. Data science gives me the tools to test that understanding at scale, looking not just at one classroom, but at patterns across hundreds of cases. I'm currently building skills in Python, SQL, and data visualisation, with one long-term goal in mind: applying that combination to migration and social policy research, at organisations like IOM or UNHCR, where data can reveal patterns that are invisible case by case, showing who needs help and what's working.
