Our Approach
Understanding comes first.
At Hester Psychology, we start with one guiding principle: real understanding takes time. We don’t rush to label or rely on surface-level checklists. Instead, we take a close look at how a child learns, thinks, and interacts with the world around them and why that might look different from what’s expected.
Our assessments are designed to go deeper. We take the time to listen, ask good questions, and consider the bigger picture. That includes school environments, family dynamics, sensory needs, and developmental history. It’s not just about what a child can or can’t do – it’s about what’s happening underneath, and what might help.
THE LENS WE USE
We work from a neuroaffirming approach, which means we don’t see difference as deficit. We look for patterns, strengths, and needs in a way that respects the child and supports the people around them to respond more effectively
What guides our work:
Behaviour is communication.
We don’t reduce behaviour to defiance, dysfunction, or disorder. We approach it as a form of communication, shaped by development, experience, environment, and unmet needs. We believe our work is to understand what’s underneath the behaviours, not just to manage what’s visible.
Context matters.
Children don’t exist in isolation. Their behaviour, challenges, and development unfold within a complex web of family dynamics, educational settings, social relationships, and broader environmental influences. We prioritise understanding these intersecting systems because meaningful support requires addressing both the individual, and the network that shapes their experience..
More than a label.
Because knowing what it is doesn’t tell you what to do next. We ensure our assessments and formulations go beyond naming; we provide clear, practical recommendations designed to support families, schools, and clinicians in making informed, feasible decisions. To us, clarity means delivering insight that translates into real-world guidance and actionable next steps.
Always Learning. Always Evidence-Based.
We take pride in offering assessments that are not only thorough, but current. Psychology — especially in the neurodevelopmental space — is evolving fast. We stay up to date with the latest research, training, and frameworks to ensure our assessments reflect what’s now known about neurodiversity, not just what’s always been done.
That includes recognising the full range of autism presentations, including those that are less visible, more internalised, or often misunderstood. It means staying alert to the ways gender, masking, anxiety, or co-occurring conditions can affect how a child is seen and supported.
We are committed to ongoing professional development and reflective practice, so the children and families we work with receive assessments that are informed, considered, and respectful of difference.
Meet Dr kyah Hester – FOUNDER & lead psychologist
As a parent herself, Dr. Hester knows how important it is to feel heard when something isn’t quite making sense. She creates a warm, respectful space for families to explore concerns and ask the hard questions – without judgment, pressure, or assumption.
She believes that understanding a child means looking beyond a diagnosis and considering the full context of their development, environment, and lived experience. Her assessments are structured to provide meaningful insights about a child’s strengths, needs, and differences, with recommendations that are both practical and tailored.
We’re here to help.
Navigating your child’s needs can feel overwhelming, especially when the answers aren’t clear, the advice is conflicting, or nothing seems to fit. You don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re here to guide you with care, structure, and respect, offering thoughtful assessments that bring insight, not just information. Whether you’re seeking clarity around learning, attention, communication, or broader development, we’ll help you understand what’s going on and what might help next.