Stars Psychology

Get to know Stars Psychology

From Stars Psychology's website.

• Our approach

  Stars Psychology provides diagnostic assessment services using evidence-based, standardised tools tailored to understand each child's unique strengths and learning needs. Sessions are structured around specific assessments—for example, ADHD assessments include a comprehensive parent interview followed by direct assessment with the child, plus teacher questionnaires, all designed to build a complete picture of the child's abilities. The team uses age-appropriate cognitive and educational assessments, behavioural tools like the ADOS for autism assessment, and standardised measures to investigate learning, attention, language and social-emotional development. Assessment reports include results, any relevant diagnosis, and personalised recommendations to guide support from specialists, schools and families. This approach helps parents and teachers understand and support each child's individual learning and behavioural needs.

• Working with families

  Parents are actively involved from the start—a comprehensive parent interview is a core part of every assessment, ensuring the team understands your child's history, behaviours and needs from your perspective. Teacher feedback is also gathered through behaviour rating questionnaires and scales, providing school-based insights. Assessment reports are prepared for families and include personalised recommendations designed to guide support from specialists, your child's school and family members. This collaborative approach ensures you and your child's school have clear, actionable information to support their learning and development.

• Meet the team

  The Stars Psychology team consists of experienced psychologists specialising in educational and developmental psychology. Yasotha V, Janice Beddom and Cathy Catroppa are Board Approved Supervisors, and the team collectively brings over 20 years of experience across various settings working with children and adolescents. The psychologists are dedicated to helping parents and teachers understand and support the unique learning and behavioural needs of each child. The team is based across three accessible Melbourne locations: Carlton, Caulfield and Yarraville.

• Your first visit

  At the first appointment, the process varies depending on the assessment type but typically involves a comprehensive parent interview combined with direct assessment of the child. For ADHD assessment specifically, you'll meet with a psychologist for an initial parent interview (1 hour), followed by a 2-hour assessment session with your child that includes questionnaires from both parents and teachers. All assessments conclude with a detailed report that outlines the results, any diagnosis if relevant, and recommendations tailored to your child's specific needs. This structured approach ensures the team gathers complete information from multiple sources to provide accurate understanding of your child's abilities and any areas needing support.