One day, my kids were asking me to explain what I do at work. I didn't think they wanted to hear about neuropsychological tests, statistical analyses and writing reports, so I explained it this way: I'm a detective. The mystery is always that a wonderful, bright person is not doing well in school or at home, and I need to figure out why and help them do better. I can only look for clues by spending time with that person, asking them to do different kinds of tasks.

I have been doing neuropsychological evaluations for over twenty years and I can honestly say that I am enjoying it now more than ever. No child or teenager should have to go through life with an undiagnosed problem, feeling badly about themselves and not knowing how to make things better. I realize that it is an important (and sometimes scary) decision to choose someone to help with this problem, and I do everything I possibly can to provide clarity and direction.

I believe that a neuropsychological evaluation can be a positive and life-changing experience. I spend as much time as needed to make sure that we are determining the right diagnosis and are also uncovering each child’s strengths as well as problem areas. Sometimes questions are focused on schoolwork, but just as often there are concerns about a child’s social skills, emotions, or behavior. There can be many reasons for these issues, and it is important that we find clarity about all of the aspects of your child’s functioning. I am also aware that it is important to have a clearly written report as quickly as possible after the evaluation, and I work hard to make that happen.

In addition to my formal training, I have had additional training at home for the past 21 years with my three children, two of whom have learning disabilities. I meant to add a line about what I do in my spare time, but having a wonderful husband, three amazing children, and a gratifying career leaves little free time (and I wouldn't have it any other way)