Like others, I waited a long time to revisit, much less provide written feedback on the devastating consequences for myself and my children that were the result of Dr Star's objectively incompetent analysis during our divorce proceedings.
Clinical testing by a 3rd party resource that showed clear indications of aberrant and dangerous Axis1 personality profiles held by my ex were, once in her hands, utterly ignored.
Opposite results of my own Axis2 profile from the same source, validated as 'reliable' and 'can be trusted' were likewise treated as if she did'nt review the external clinical information at all.

In fact, my ex's testing was so off the charts, it could not be reliably used as a diagnosis for anything other than an indication of need for deeper analysis aimed at uncovering Axis1 level syndromes (aka: the serious stuff).

Nevertheless, after complimenting me in interview saying she never heard as well-rounded a response as the one I gave her in contextualizing my son's emotional, spiritual and cognitive needs in emerging adolescence; this cynical charlatan not only advised the ex get full custody of our 2 elementary age, special needs kids - but wrote the most gallingly unprofessional assessment imaginable.

Reading like a bad soap opera narrative in a distorted and mystifyingly neutral 'he-said-she-said' template, Dr Star's "report" was devoid of professional logic, perspective or cadence. It was subsequently shown to more than one professional with excellent parallel credentials who validated my own horrified impression of it's base worthlessness.

I am deeply sorry to imagine this person may still be profiteering in place of practice while consigning other at-risk children to lives as scarred as my own kid's became - if not worse.

If it were possible to sue, I would have spent my last dime pursuing her, but the umbrella of protection a court-ordered advisory role like this provides prohibits it. And for me, the subsequent needs of my kids came first for the last 10+ years.

And so continues the rank abuse of families already suffering in a court system that does less than nothing to protect those trapped in conflict with well funded, demonstrably disturbed individuals.

As one who should know better, and is routinely relied on in an assumption of delicate expertise, Dr Star demonstrated nothing more than her cornerstone status as what I see as the worst element in all the family court proceedings in Cook Co.

Far from operating as the safety net she and others like her are morally charged to be, she - the last resort my kids had for a decent outcome - struck the final note in process that unequivocally put an end to their healthy support through an unavoidably difficult time in all out lives.

In fact, it started a long destructive path for them I will be plagued with guilt over for the failing to prevent the rest of my life.

And, seriously - SHAME on the Cook County courts system to continue to rely on this known menace to the obvious detriment of the health and wellbeing of Illinois children!

Beyond this late review, please note some hard won advice:
Only the mentally ill (or those legally bound to them) are insane enough to to end up in court here in Cook Co., IL.

If you are reading this, and faced with similar dynamics - please look seriously into collaborative or other means of separation, and avoid the money-driven adversarial court process and their evaluations like the plague they are.

Even co-parenting with a disturbed individual is better than risking your kids care to the chance they will spend the majority of their time under the control of an unbalanced parent in an all-or-nothing scenario.

by Mary Lenehan xxx.xxx.244.65

September 14, 2021

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If there was a zero start for Leslie Star she would have received it. 20 years ago she was assigned to my custody case. My ex was using parental alienation. Dr Star was more interested in getting paid than doing any kind of evaluation. She wrote that the ex had all sorts of issues, yet, she did not recommend that we have joint custody. Fast forward - my son figured things out when he was 12. All the things I had suspected came out and I was awarded custody of my son. Had Leslie Star done her job, my kids wouldn’t have to pay back student loans as the money used in the custody fight could have been used for their education. I waited 20 years to post, as it appears that others have the same complaint.

by Vindicated dad xxx.xxx.74.121

August 30, 2019

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Agree with the other reviewers; stay away from Dr. Star. I have no idea how she continues to get referrals. My ex-spouse was, at least from my perspective and even the perspective of our own couple's therapist, systemically alienating our child from me. I summarized the case for this as well as providing evidence to back it up, including a very large stack of emails which demonstrating the emotional instability as well as extensive diaries of the abuse of our child. The report she gave seemed mostly neutral, as if we were both normal and stable parents. The tremendous amount of money spent on her felt like a complete waste; that she seemed disinterested in trudging through the evidence and instead relying on her instinct. Find someone else.

by Disappointed Dad xxx.xxx.236.15

March 21, 2018

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Dr. Leslie Star interviewed both my husband
and myself in a highly contested divorce for
custody of our two sons. Despite finding my
ex husband unable to tell the truth even when
questioned about his lies and presented with
the facts, Dr. Leslie Star found me at fault
for the divorce.

Using one my ex best friend, now one of
his girl friends, as a witness with my other
best friend lying in her testimony to
Dr. Leslie Star. Dr. Star concluded I
was at fault for the end of the marriage.

Fortunately with phone records, I was able
to show the judge that at least one of my former
best friends lied when talking to Dr. Leslie Star.

Dr. Star used multiple choice standardized tests.
On two tests, I missed an answer due to my
being legally blind. Instead of being allowed
to do the entire test again, her secretary find
the line I missed, read the question and her
secretary filled in the answer for me.

I asked if the missed line would affect any following
questions and answers and told "NOT TO WORRY".
The missed line in the multiple question test was
in the first quarter.

If Dr. Star had been as informed then as she is now
about intimate terrorism perhaps my divorce would
not have taken 31 months, over $100,000 for my
divorce lawyer, and most important not cost me
the love of my oldest son.

My oldest son who is attending a community
college is on academic probation after two years.
My youngest son who is still in High School has
almost as many credits at the same community
college with a better grade point average.

Guess which son is with his father who used to
gaslight me and who is with me?

Imagine my surprise when I read about Dr. Star
and intimate terrorism. At least she is now more
educated in domestic violence.

I pray she doesn't drop the ball again and ruin
the lives of any children, teenagers, or parents.

My interview with her was during month six of
my 31 month divorce. It was shortly after my
sons' attorney expressed concern about my
oldest son and recommended both sons be
with me as the residential parent.

Unfortunately my oldest son was there for
his father's suicide threat among other
traumatic events. I hope with time my
oldest son is healthy again but I know
how much I still struggle to get past the
abuse over 25 years.

by Sunny xxx.xxx.230.218

October 11, 2017

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Leslie Starr is a monster! She will pick a parent to target. Then, in a personal manner for her enjoyment, and with her psychological profile of that parent, she will determine in what way she could rip that parent apart. More so, she will determine in what way she could best kill your spirit, mind , body, and soul.

She does this pretending that all is in regard to her duty to appoint a parent custody. But, this purpose is fictitious. Yes, she does award the parent that she see's fit. But, her true reason behind her monstrous tactics are that she enjoys tearing people apart.

The two star review above really stands for two dirty dim stars!

A summary of my case with her: I was going through a divorce. The ex was a cop who repeatedly held his gun to his own head during marital disagreements (also, during his first marriage), bashed my face in, and then kidnapped my son to keep me quiet so that he would not be held accountable for it. LS, recommended sole custody to him with the explanation that he showed better judgement. I disagree. I feel that the ultimate example that is opposite to good judgement is to willfully break the law. Especially, a Chicago police officer that broke the law for the sake of his own interest. (Bill Dougherty, FOP lodge 7)

by Kim Dougherty xxx.xxx.141.219

July 29, 2016

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Dr. Starr was very unprofessional and cold hearted. Her arrogance and miserable demeanor were threatening and frightening for my children.She was disrespectful and dishonest. Her report was anything but accurate and unprofessional. Upon further review of another custody evaluater, who has much more credibility found her report to be full of holes, irrelevant information and misleading statements.The judge threw the report out. She is a waste of time and money.

by Elle Juice xxx.xxx.127.222

May 01, 2015

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WARNING...God help anyone who has to use Leslie Star. She is a terrible excuse of a representation of the courts. She will not listen to any facts but will side and recommend whichever side has more money. She is also politically driven. She will not do what is in best interest of the children so beware!

by D xxx.xxx.155.206

October 21, 2014

Leslie D Star Associates

Consumer Feedback

Leslie D Star Associates

Psychologists

Chicago, IL

LifeStance Health

Chicago, IL

LifeStance Health

Chicago, IL

LifeStance Health

Chicago, IL

Consumer Feedback