Odilia Celestino-Jooste

Professional Overview

I am a Registered Psychometrist dedicated to supporting individuals throughout their lifespan through comprehensive, evidence-based psychometric assessments. My practice focuses on helping clients gain deeper insight into their cognitive, emotional, and educational needs, enabling informed decision-making and promoting growth in academic, career, and personal development contexts.

With extensive experience in psycho-educational, medico-legal, concession and accommodation, school readiness, subject choice, and career assessments, I provide comprehensive reports and practical, client-centred recommendations tailored to each individual’s unique circumstances. My professional experience spans corporate, educational, clinical, and medico-legal environments, with particular expertise in supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD, as well as clients experiencing barriers to learning, traumatic brain injuries, and other psychological challenges.

I am committed to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and culturally sensitive environment in which clients feel understood, respected, and empowered. Whether seeking clarity regarding learning support, career direction, or appropriate accommodations, my aim is to provide meaningful insights and evidence-based guidance that contribute positively to each client’s personal, academic, and professional development.

About Me

Why I Became a Psychometrist

Although I always knew I wanted to work within the field of Humanities, I did not initially realise that psychology would become my path. Everything changed the moment I was introduced to the field. For the first time, I began to understand how deeply people carry pain, resilience, hope, and untold stories within them. What started as an academic interest soon became something far more personal and meaningful.

Through years of volunteer work with vulnerable communities, my passion for understanding and supporting people continued to grow. My experiences with Children of Fire in collaboration with the Johannesburg School for the Blind, Star Academy supporting autistic learners and children with behavioural difficulties, and OWL Day Care Centre exposed to individuals whose experiences were often misunderstood or overlooked. These experiences taught me that every person communicates differently, copes differently, and deserves to be seen beyond labels, diagnoses, or circumstances.

After completing my Honours degree, I initially planned to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychology. However, an unexpected opportunity in psychometric assessments opened the door to a new path — one that allowed me to combine psychology, meaningful human connection, and practical support. Over time, I realised that psychometry was never simply a profession for me; it became a calling. It gave me the opportunity to help people feel understood, supported, and empowered during moments when they may feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or unseen.

Today, through my independent practice, I continue to grow in my passion for helping individuals better understand themselves, their abilities, and their potential.

What Makes Me Different

I never want someone to feel like they are simply a test score, diagnosis, or report sitting on my desk. Every individual who enters the assessment process brings a unique story, lived experience, strengths, and challenges — and I believe the process should honour that fully.

My approach is warm, collaborative, compassionate, and person-centred. Beyond gathering information and interpreting results, I take the time to truly understand the individual in front of me and create a space where they feel safe, respected, and heard.

Over the years, working with children and adults living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), neurodevelopmental difficulties, behavioural challenges, and complex life circumstances has taught me the importance of patience, adaptability, and creativity. Some individuals I have worked with could not always express themselves easily through words or traditional assessment methods. These experiences taught me to listen differently, think creatively, and adapt my approach in ways that make the assessment process both meaningful and accessible.

Whether working in educational, corporate, or medico-legal settings, I strive to balance clinical precision with empathy and genuine human connection. I am passionate about finding practical, solution-focused ways to support individuals while ensuring that every assessment remains ethically grounded, culturally sensitive, and deeply respectful of each person’s lived experience.

With over 14 years of combined education and professional experience, I continue to grow and refine my work in assessment, report writing, and client care.

Training & Experience

My work as a Psychometrist has been shaped not only by formal academic training, but also by the people and experiences that have profoundly influenced how I understand and support others.

Professional Experience

My early experience as an Intern Psychometrist at Telesure Investment Holdings provided valuable exposure to high-volume psychometric assessments within the corporate environment. This experience offered important insight into how psychological data can meaningfully contribute to career development, organisational growth, and workplace wellbeing. My subsequent work within Human Resources further strengthened my ability to translate complex psychometric findings into practical, people-centred insights that support both individuals and organisations.

Alongside this, my extensive medico-legal experience, working collaboratively with Clinical Neuropsychologists, Educational Psychologists, and Industrial Psychologists, has refined my ability to conduct comprehensive and ethically grounded assessments under pressure while maintaining empathy, sensitivity, and close attention to detail.

Volunteer & Community Work

Some of the most meaningful lessons throughout my journey have come from volunteering within vulnerable communities. Supporting autistic learners and children with behavioural difficulties at Star Academy, facilitating sensory and motor development at OWL Day Care Centre, and working with burn survivors and visually impaired children through Children of Fire profoundly shaped both my personal and professional growth.

These experiences deepened my understanding of resilience, vulnerability, and the importance of meeting individuals where they are. They taught me that assessment is not only about identifying challenges, but also about recognising strength, potential, and humanity.

Together with my training as a licensed HeartMath Coach and my professional registrations with the HPCSA, SAMLA, and AoA, these experiences have helped me develop not only strong technical expertise, but also a genuine ability to connect with people in a way that is compassionate, respectful, and deeply human. At the heart of my work is the belief that every individual deserves to feel understood — not only through clinical insight, but also through compassion, dignity, and authentic human connection. My hope is that every person leaves the assessment process feeling seen more clearly for who they truly are.