Who I am
I am a neuropsychologist with many years experience working with people of all ages to help them understand and address problems with learning, attention, memory, mood, motivation, relationships and behavior. The three areas addressed are cognitive, executive and social emotional. I have a very whole-person, positive approach, geared toward identifying strengths as well as challenges. The brain has enormous capacity for healing and learning. I believe that in order to move beyond our difficulties we need to identify and cultivate our gifts. My ThinkPrint model is a framework for understanding how our brains work and how each of our brains works a bit differently.
I am an expert in the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and in the cognitive consequences of brain injury, neurologic illness, and chronic inflammatory/autoimmune conditions. My goal is to go beyond a diagnosis to a deeper understanding of the individual, to help them find their path forward to be as happy and productive as possible.
What I Do
The neuropsychological assessment includes an interview and history, review of educational and/or medical records, and the administration of neuropsychological tests. These are pictures, puzzles, and questions, presented on the computer or with paper and pencil, that are carefully designed to measure the different kinds of information processing (higher-level brain processes), and can show us which processes work more or less efficiently and consistently for that person. Services include:
- Neuropsychological Assessment for Children and Adults
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Executive Skills Development and Cognitive Remediation
- Memory Loss Assessment for Older Adults
- Parenting and Family Guidance and Support
Training and Experience
I am a New York State licensed psychologist specializing in clinical neuropsychology. I earned my Doctoral degree at New York University in Cognitive Neuroscience (Experimental Psychology), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at Cornell University College of Medicine Department of Neurology. I have also studied philosophy and theology at NYU and Yale and continue to study and apply the principles of Buddhist psychology and mindfulness in my life and work.
I have been a member of the clinical research faculty at Cornell and at Columbia University, and the medical staffs of Phelps Memorial, Four Winds, Stony Lodge, and Northern Westchester Hospitals. I am a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Neuropsychological Society, the International Dyslexia Association, and the International Society for Autism Research.
I have worked with scores of public school districts and private schools to help in developing Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Accommodation (504) Plans, and providing Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs). I have presented lectures and workshops for parents, educators, and medical professionals. I have testified as an expert witness at impartial hearings and in court, and provided independent medical examinations and reviews.
In addition, I have presented and published my scientific research, and served as a mentor and clinical and research supervisor to students studying cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology (e.g. Working Memory in Children with Lyme Disease versus ADHD, International Neuropsychological Society, 2013, Pitocin and Autism Spectrum Disorder, International Society for Autism Research, 2010.) My early research focused on memory in normal aging and in Alzheimer’s disease (e.g., Rissenberg & Glanzer 1986; Rissenberg & Glanzer 1987).