At a glance
- The process at Deniz Yıldızı progresses in five steps: making an appointment, comprehensive expert consultation face-to-face with our founder & education coordinator and detailed anamnesis, evaluation, parent coaching, and education program.
- Comprehensive expert consultations are conducted by our founder Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel; the meeting lasts about 1 hour and a verbal evaluation is provided to the family at the end.
- Our assistant receives the appointment requests from the site and responds on the same day.
- Individual and group sessions are planned together according to the child's needs.
- The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is prepared jointly by the team and reviewed every 3 months; brief information is given to the parent at the end of each session.
Prepared by: Deniz Yıldızı Special Education content team · Scientific review: Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel · Last updated: 15 September 2026
How does the process progress from making an appointment to the education program?
Every family comes from a different starting point. Some have newly received a diagnosis, while others just feel that something is not right. The process follows the same sequence in both cases.
1. Making an appointment
You can call us at 0530 407 00 78, write via WhatsApp or fill out the form on the site. First, we listen to you: your child's age, the issue that worries you, and any reports you have. Requests on the site drop to our assistant and you will be returned on the same day.
2. Comprehensive Expert Consultation and detailed anamnesis
You will have a meeting of about 1 hour with our founder Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel. In this meeting, your child's developmental history (anamnesis) is taken in detail. At the end of the meeting, a verbal evaluation and a recommendation for the next step are provided.
3. Evaluation
If deemed necessary, evaluation tools appropriate for your child's needs are applied. These may be developmental screening tests, speech and language tests, attention and cognitive evaluations or reading and writing tests. The goal is not to put a label, but to understand your child's strengths and the areas that need support.
4. Parent coaching
Education doesn't only happen in the session room. Parent coaching is structured specifically for each family, taking into account the child's learning style, the family's conditions and needs. Thus, we plan together what you will do and how you will do it at home.
5. Education program
According to the evaluation results, our team prepares an Individualized Education Program for your child. The program is reviewed every 3 months; progress is monitored with periodic test repetitions and observation notes.
What is discussed in the comprehensive expert consultation?
The preliminary meeting is a gathering of about 1 hour set aside to get to know your child and your family, and it is free of charge. The meeting is conducted by our founder Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel.
In this meeting, a detailed anamnesis is taken. Anamnesis means talking about the pregnancy and birth process, first developmental milestones (like sitting, walking, first words), sleep and feeding routines, play and communication habits, and any previous evaluations and supports you have received.
At the end of the meeting, you are given a verbal evaluation: what was observed, whether an evaluation is necessary, and what the next step might be are explained. This meeting is not a diagnosis meeting. If deemed necessary, we refer you to the relevant physician.
What should I prepare before coming to the first meeting?
Preparation is not mandatory; you can come to the meeting even if you have no documents. Still, the following make the meeting more efficient.
- Physician reports, RAM report, and previous test results, if any
- Observation notes from school or preschool, report card, or teacher opinions
- Short notes on the behaviors that concern you: when they started, in which environment they are more prominent
- Short videos taken at home (play, speech attempt, difficult moments) — you might want to show them during the meeting
- Baby photos or a vaccination card to help you remember developmental milestones like the first word or walking
- A list of the medications used or departments being followed, if any
- A written list of the questions on your mind; it is very common to forget them during the meeting
Who do you meet at which step, what do you get at the end?
We have summarized the steps in the process so you can see them at a glance. Durations may vary depending on the child and the tool applied.
| Step | With whom | Duration | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making an appointment | Our assistant | A brief conversation | Preliminary meeting appointment; same-day return to requests from the site |
| Comprehensive Expert Consultation | Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel | Approx. 1 hour | Detailed anamnesis and verbal evaluation |
| Evaluation | Expert in the relevant field (psychologist, speech therapist, special education teacher) | Varies depending on the tool; many tests 30-60 minutes, some longer | Strengths and areas to be supported |
| Parent coaching | Our team | Planned according to the family | Steps to be applied at home |
| Education program | The team together | Reviewed every 3 months | Individualized Education Program (IEP) |
Is a diagnosis made during the evaluation?
No. Our institution conducts a preliminary evaluation, applies necessary tests and scales, reports its observations, and refers you to a physician when necessary.
The evaluation does not look at a single test. Structured observation, developmental scales, parent interviews, and school or teacher opinions when necessary are brought together. You can find all the tools we use on our Evaluation Tools page.
If you already have a diagnosis or a report, this also becomes part of the evaluation; the opinion of an expert who knew your child before us is also taken into account.
How are sessions planned?
| Topic | How does it work at Deniz Yıldızı? |
|---|---|
| Session type | Individual and group work, planned as a mix according to the child's needs |
| Student with a RAM report | The session plan is made according to the support education decision in the report |
| Student without a RAM report | The number of sessions is determined together with the family |
| Age groups | 0–3 years, 3–6 years, 6–12 years, and over 12 years |
| Information to parent | Brief information at the end of each session |
| Progress tracking | Periodic test repetition and observation notes |
| Internal team control | Weekly supervision; case meeting when necessary |
What should you expect and pay attention to after the program starts?
Special education is a journey. We care about discussing what you will see regularly and what topics require being realistic right from the start.
What you will see regularly
- Brief information about what your child did that day at the end of every session
- An individual program prepared by the team and reviewed every 3 months
- Discussion of the work in supervision every week
- Joint evaluation by the psychologist, special education teacher, speech and language therapist, and occupational therapist when different expertise is required
- Home program and parent coaching about what you can do at home
Topics requiring realism
- How long the education will take and the speed of progress vary for every child; a definitive time cannot be stated in advance
- The institution's evaluation does not replace a diagnosis
- Consistent support at home and school contributes to making the work in the session permanent
- Pricing and planning information is discussed on the phone or in the meeting as it varies depending on the child's program
What do the terms you will hear in the process mean?
- Anamnesis
- Taking the child's developmental history from birth to the present in detail by talking with the family.
- Preliminary evaluation
- Examining the child's development with observations and scales and determining the needs before making a diagnosis.
- IEP
- Individualized Education Program. The plan showing the goals written according to the child's needs and how to work on these goals.
- Supervision
- Regular review of the educators' work with an experienced expert. Done weekly at Deniz Yıldızı.
- Case meeting
- A meeting where experts from different fields evaluate a child's situation together.
- Parent coaching
- Education planned specifically for the family, given to help parents support the child's development at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is the preliminary meeting really free?
Yes. The first preliminary meeting and the detailed anamnesis taken in this meeting are free of charge. We discuss the subsequent evaluation and information regarding the education program in the meeting or on the phone.
Who does the preliminary meeting?
The preliminary meeting is conducted by our founder Psychologist (MSc) Burcu Cebeci Gürel. The meeting takes about 1 hour.
Is a written report given at the end of the meeting?
At the end of the preliminary meeting, a verbal evaluation is provided to the family. When evaluation tools are applied, the results are separately shared with you and explained.
When will my appointment request be returned?
Our assistant receives the appointment requests from the site and responds on the same day. If you have an urgent situation, you can call 0530 407 00 78 directly.
Can I apply without getting a diagnosis?
Yes. Not having a diagnosis is not an obstacle for your application. Based on observations in the preliminary meeting and evaluation, we will refer you to a physician if necessary.
What documents should I bring to the first meeting?
Physician reports, RAM report, previous test results, and school or preschool observations, if any, are helpful. You can come to the meeting even if you have no documents.
How long does the evaluation take?
It varies depending on the tool applied. Many tests take 30-60 minutes, some cognitive evaluations can be longer than an hour. Which evaluations are needed are discussed at the preliminary meeting.
Who decides how many sessions will be held per week?
For students with a RAM report, the session plan is made according to the support education decision in the report. For students without a report, we determine the number of sessions together with the family.
Who prepares the education program?
The Individualized Education Program is prepared jointly by the team. The program is reviewed every 3 months and updated according to progress.
How will I follow my child's progress?
At the end of every session, you are given a brief update. Our team monitors progress with periodic test repetitions and observation notes; it is also discussed with you during program updates.
Is parent coaching mandatory?
Parent coaching is a step in our process because what is done at home supports the work in the session. Its content and format are planned specifically for each family.
