Hopscotch & Harmony - Child, Teen and Adult Psychology

08/12/2025

We had our Christmas party over the weekend, and it was such a relaxed, easy afternoon. It showed the kind of connection our team has across both clinics. After a big year, it was nice to have another event where we could slow down and just enjoy being together.

We also wrapped up our annual culture survey recently, and the comments reflected what we see every day, people supporting each other, genuine care, and a workplace where team members feel comfortable being themselves. It’s encouraging to see that coming through so strongly.

Thank you to our team for the care, kindness, and professionalism you bring to your work and to each other. We’re ending the year feeling very grateful for this group and the difference you make.

11/11/2025

Self-esteem isn’t something children are born with—it’s something they build through love, encouragement, and everyday moments.

Here are 3 simple ways to help your child develop healthy self-esteem:

Ask how someone who loves them would describe them.

Offer sincere, specific praise that focuses on effort.

Celebrate their wins, big or small.

These small shifts in what they hear from us can make a lasting difference.

Read more: https://www.hopscotchandharmony.com.au/blog/3-ways-to-foster-your-childs-self-esteem

Practical, research-informed tips to help your child build healthy self-esteem, resilience, and confidence through simple daily interactions.

10/11/2025

✨ Sometimes even the brightest children face unseen challenges. A psychoeducational assessment can uncover the "why" and help them thrive. 💡💛

Read more: https://www.hopscotchandharmony.com.au/blog/when-a-bright-child-struggles-how-a-psychoeducational-assessment-can-help

Is your bright child struggling with behaviour, focus, or learning? A psychoeducational assessment can uncover hidden challenges, including attention difficulties, executive functioning issues, and learning differences like dyslexia or ADHD. Learn how ear

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween from the Hopscotch & Harmony team! Halloween might not be a big thing here in Australia, but we’re not going to say no to a reason to have some fun together. The teams at Werribee and Belmont got into the spirit with a pumpkin carving challenge, and the creativity did not disappoint!

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable evening, however you spend it. 🎃

22/10/2025

We’ve expanded our team and now have more availability for assessments across November to January. Start the new year with clarity and practical recommendations for learning, work, and daily life.

We offer Autism, ADHD, Cognitive and Educational assessments for both children and adults, with appointments available to start within two weeks.

To get started, complete our booking enquiry form here and we’ll be in touch to arrange your assessment:
https://www.hopscotchandharmony.com.au/assessments.html

Autism and ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults in Melbourne and Geelong. Comprehensive reports and tailored recommendations.

04/10/2025

What a blast we had at our Hopscotch & Harmony Mystery Picnic! It was great to see both clinic teams together and share adventures. We solved clues, explored new corners of Geelong, and enjoyed a picnic at the finish line (even if the rain sent us back to the Belmont clinic...). There were lots of laughs, playing with puppies at the dog park, mad dashes to find the next clue - including some wrong turns 🙃 - and plenty of food to share. It’s always nice to spend time together outside the usual routine and enjoy a weekday afternoon full of fun and connection.

30/09/2025

What an incredible story from our friends at Warringa Park School! Their students dreamed big, launched a campaign, and ended up recording with none other than Snoop Dogg while he was in Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final.

It’s such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when creativity, passion, and community come together.

Congrats to the students, teachers, and families who made this dream a reality!

14/09/2025

Thinking about taking your child to see a psychologist? 💬
This blog gently walks you through what to expect and how to make the experience as supportive and positive as possible.
Read more: https://www.hopscotchandharmony.com.au/blog/taking-your-child-to-see-a-psychologist-read-this-first

01/09/2025

✨ Sometimes even the brightest children face unseen challenges. A psychoeducational assessment can uncover the "why" and help them thrive. 💡💛
Read more:

Is your bright child struggling with behaviour, focus, or learning? A psychoeducational assessment can uncover hidden challenges, including attention difficulties, executive functioning issues, and learning differences like dyslexia or ADHD. Learn how ear

04/07/2025

𝑨 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚

We want to acknowledge the deep shock and distress many families in our community are feeling in response to the recent news involving childcare centres in Point Cook and surrounds.

For many parents and educators, this story is profoundly unsettling. The alleged details, including what’s been reported publicly are confronting. Even if your family isn’t directly affected, you may be feeling waves of grief, rage, fear, or helplessness. That’s a very human response to an unfathomable situation.

We know many of you are wondering how to respond to the news, to your own emotions, and to your child.

Here are a few reminders that may help in the days ahead:

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒕
You made decisions with care and trust, as any loving parent would. The responsibility lies with the individual who allegedly caused harm.

𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅
When you don’t know what’s safe or what’s next, your nervous system is on high alert. Be kind to yourself. Pause. Breathe. Limit your exposure to social media content that may include graphic details. You are allowed to step away.

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆
Whether you're a parent, carer or educator, support is available. If you're feeling overwhelmed, confused, or need someone to talk to, please reach out to the services below, or a mental health provider in your area.

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅
If they aren’t aware of what’s happened, you don’t need to bring it up. If they sense something is off, you don’t need to have the perfect words. Your presence, comfort, and willingness to be there with them even when you feel shaken, can offer more safety than any script ever could.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭:

Bravehearts: 1800 272 831 www.bravehearts.org.au

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 www.1800respect.org.au

Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au

Parentline VIC: 13 22 89 www.parentline.com.au

Victorian Government Information & Hotline: vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation

We see the pain, the outrage, the heartbreak. We stand with the children, and with the families navigating this impossible moment.

Be gentle with yourself, and those around you.

Warmly,

The team at Hopscotch & Harmony

03/06/2025

Sharing a lunch table instead of a spreadsheet? We’ll take it.
Our Client Relations and Accounts teams are usually working across clinics and home offices - and while we’re always connected through online channels, catching up in person felt like a real win.
It’s moments like this that remind us how much team culture matters.