About Us
Step by Step Psychology promotes collaboration and support among our team and with our community, enabling us to maximise positive outcomes for our clients and their families.
Visit Careers at SBSP to find out more about joining our team.
At Step by Step Psychology, our mission is to:
- Empower families to achieve greater happiness and build resilience through education, guidance and support
- Provide strategies to improve emotional health and wellbeing.
- Support parents and families to enhance their children’s mental health.
We achieve this through:
- Individual counselling and skill development
- Family counselling and support
- Assessments to provide accurate diagnoses and subsequent treatment plans
Our Team
Hayley Jennings
Director
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Hayley is the founder of Step by Step Psychology, establishing the Blackburn Clinic in 2015 after having worked with young people and their families in psychology settings since 2008. Hayley has a passion for helping families take steps toward a brighter future. She utilises a neuro-affirming approach with clients and tailors her work to suit each individual client. Hayley particularly enjoys working holistically to ensure that external factors such as diet and lifestyle are conducive to positive well-being.
While not currently seeing clients, Hayley works closely with the Step by Step Psychology team to support them to provide excellent care for their clients, as well as developing knowledge and a career in psychology. Outside of work, Hayley is kept busy raising her three young girls and loves to set time aside to exercise and try new hobbies, such as learning pottery.
Emma Trifiletti
Team Leader/Senior Education and Developmental Psychologist
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Emma is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist who has been part of Step by Step Psychology since 2017. She works with children, adolescents, and parents, and is passionate about supporting and advocating for neurodivergent clients. She values neuro-affirming, gender affirming and strengths-based approach, often collaborating with allied health teams to ensure well-rounded support. Emma is a warm and caring therapist who is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals and enhance their overall wellbeing. Emma is experienced in administering psychological assessments to explore diagnoses such as Autism, ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders. She supports clients through this process and helps them to develop a greater understanding of themselves and the way their brain works. Emma is a Board Approved Supervisor and provides support and guidance to the Step by Step Psychology team in addition to her work with clients. Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with her husband and children, doing Pilates and a having a good cup of coffee at a café.
Dr. Kate Horner
Psychologist
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Kate has been working as a Psychologist with Step by Step Psychology since 2021. Kate works with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, trauma, and self-harm. She creates a safe, supportive space where young people feel understood and empowered. Through a neuro-affirming, gender affirming, and client-centred approach, Kate helps clients build coping strategies, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and work toward their personal goals. Drawing on CBT, ACT, and DBT, she tailors therapy to each individual, supporting meaningful progress and lasting change. Kate provides psychological assessments for neurodevelopmental diagnosis such as Autism, ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders. She thoroughly explores what is occurring for each individual she assesses and provides tailored recommendations and guidance following the assessment. Away from the clinic, Kate keeps active and especially enjoys running.
Simran Patel
Psychologist
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Simran is a Registered Psychologist who completed a Master of Educational and
Developmental Psychology at Monash University. She has experience supporting
children, adolescents, and parents/families within private practice and school settings. Simran uses a client-centred approach to create inviting and engaging
therapeutic experiences for clients and enjoys encouraging growth and development. Simran has a particular interest in working with neurodivergent populations and fostering an inclusive, strengths-based approach that celebrates diverse ways of
thinking and experiencing the world. She strives to empower individuals to thrive by
recognising their unique abilities, advocating for their needs, and helping them to navigate challenges in a way that aligns with their personal strengths and goals.
Simran is originally from Brisbane and moved down to Melbourne at the start of
2023. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her friends, exploring new places, and trying new foods.
Daina Krasts
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
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Daina is Psychologist who joined the Step by Step Psychology team in 2022. Daina
is passionate about working with children, adolescents and their families to support
mental health and wellbeing and takes a strength-based, neuro-affirming, and
gender affirming approach that ensures her clients feel validated and supported.
Daina is passionate about helping young people understand and navigate big
feelings like anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation, while also guiding
parents to feel more confident in supporting their child’s wellbeing. She uses a variety of strategies, such as CBT, ACT and play-based strategies, taking a client- centred approach by working collaboratively with clients and their families to tailor support to meet their individual goals.
Daina provides psychological assessments for ADHD, Autism, and Specific Learning Disorders, ensuring the process feels supportive and comfortable, with clear
recommendations for support post-assessment. Outside of work, Daina enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Laura Payne
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
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Laura is a Psychologist and joined the Step by Step Psychology team in 2023. Laura is experienced in working therapeutically both in primary and secondary school
settings as well as private practice. She brings warmth and creativity to her work,
particularly enjoying sessions with children and adolescents who experience anxiety, learning challenges, or emotional regulation difficulties. Laura enjoys taking a client- centred, strengths-based approach to help families achieve their goals. She is
passionate about collaborating with families to deliver neuro-affirming and gender- affirming care. In sessions, Laura enjoys using creative approaches and bibliotherapy, and combines these with approaches such as CBT, depending on
each client’s needs. Laura has experience in providing psychological assessments such as those need for ADHD, Autism and Learning Disorder (Dyslexia) diagnoses. She works with
clients to ensure the best outcomes and provides guidance to support them following the assessment process. On the weekends, Laura enjoys playing music and checking out different coffee spots!
Meagan Bedelis
Provisional Psychologist
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Meagan joined the Step by Step Psychology team as a Provisional Psychologist in 2026. She is currently completing the research component of her Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy. Her doctoral research explores masking in twice‑exceptional (2e) autistic adolescent girls, reflecting her passion for
supporting neurodivergent young people in ways that honour their strengths, identities, and lived experiences. Meagan has experience conducting comprehensive educational and cognitive assessments, including those for Specific Learning Disorders, giftedness,
twice‑exceptionality, Autism, and ADHD. She has worked across both school and
clinical settings and understands how learning and wellbeing are closely connected throughout the school years.
Meagan takes a warm, client‑centred, and neuroaffirming approach to her therapeutic work. She draws on evidence‑based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and play‑based therapies, and enjoys working collaboratively with children, adolescents, and their families to help them feel understood, supported, and empowered in counselling.
Outside of the clinic, Meagan enjoys spending time with her family, including her three children and two cats. She also loves going to the football and practising yoga.
Melody Ooi
Psychologist
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Melody joined the Step by Step Psychology team as a Psychologist in 2024. Melody works therapeutically with children, adolescents, and adults from various backgrounds and with a range of concerns. In particular, she has an interest in supporting neurodivergent client populations through a neuro-affirming and gender- affirming lens, and works with clients to help them develop lifelong skills. Melody’s work with her clients is based on their individual needs, and she utilises aspects from different therapeutic approaches such as CBT, ACT and DBT as needed to help her clients meet their goals. Melody’s genuine and calm approach provides an environment for clients that makes them feel welcome and supported. Melody is experienced in administering cognitive assessments to help clients explore and understand their cognitive strengths and weaknesses. On the weekends, Melody enjoys playing music and doing creative projects with friends.
Laura Stewart
Psychologist
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Laura joined the Step by Step Psychology team as a Psychologist in 2026. She is passionate about supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and their families, and values building relationships with the individuals she works with. Laura aims to create a warm, safe, and affirming therapeutic space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported. Laura takes a client-centred, strengths-based approach and works within a neuroaffirming framework, recognising and celebrating each individual’s unique abilities, interests, and lived experiences. She draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including CBT, ACT and play-based therapies, and tailors her work to suit each individual and family. Laura is also experienced in administering psychological assessments for Specific Learning Disorders and ADHD, and enjoys collaborating closely with clients, families, and schools to develop practical, meaningful recommendations that support everyday functioning and wellbeing. Outside of work, Laura enjoys participating in and coaching calisthenics, spending quality time with family and friends, and reading.
Client Support Team
Abbi Cameron
Business Manager
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Abbi has been working at Step by Step Psychology since 2016 when she started as the first administration assistant. Her role has developed and she now co-ordinates the overall running of the two clinics as the Business Manager. Part of her current role is to provide support to the Clinic Managers at each clinic to enable them to provide a helpful and streamlined client experience from an administration perspective.
On the weekend, you’ll find Abbi watching her kids play basketball or socialising with friends over a few cocktails.
Olivia Brolese
Nunawading Clinic Manager
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Olivia is passionate about supporting children and their families, with extensive experience working with kids in both childcare settings and as a swim teacher. She is dedicated to creating positive, nurturing environments where children can feel safe and supported. Olivia’s background has given her a strong ability to connect with children and their families, making her a valuable part of the Step by Step Psychology team. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exploring creative crafts, and finding new ways to relax and recharge
Georgia Mahoney
Blackburn Clinic Manager
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Georgia currently works full-time as part of the Client Support Team at the Blackburn clinic. Georgia holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science, and has recently travelled Europe in order to expand her experiences. What Georgia loves most about working at Step by Step, is the chance to support people, and create a warm and inviting environment for clients. Georgia has a passion for people, and in her spare time loves going on walks, and spending time with her pets.
