Services

CNS offers psychological and neuropsychological examinations for differential diagnosis of known or suspected brain-based conditions and emotional disorders.

Populations served (all ages except infants): 

• Brain disorders: Mild ("concussion") to severe traumatic brain injury, congenital and developmental disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, tumors, seizure disorders, dementias and other progressive disorders, learning and attention problems, and less common syndromes and conditions.
• Emotional disorders: Depression, anxiety, personality disorders, behavior problems of childhood and adolescence, and relationship and parenting issues.
• Severe/chronic illnesses: Emotional and behavioral difficulties that can be associated with ongoing health conditions. 
• Physical disabilities: Injuries, illnesses, or post-surgical conditions that pose challenges to the psychological well-being of patients and family members.
• Common sources of dysfunction: Obstacles to personal growth and achievement of life goals.

We invite you to download our PDF brochure for information about the reasons for neuropsychological examination, the procedures involved, and the training of a qualified examiner.

Each stage of life presents challenges and opportunities for personal growth and development, and people of all ages seek assistance from CNS. In childhood, issues can include anxiety, school refusal, shyness, sadness, attention and learning problems, conduct problems, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. During adolescence, changes in mood and behavior can accompany hormonal changes and increasing personal responsibility and independence. In adulthood and older age, challenges can include alterations in relationships and family structure, occupational and financial problems, substance use, declines in physical well-being and mental function (including difficulties with memory and daily activities), barriers to healthcare access, and personal losses. These problems can be related to external circumstances (e.g. stressors at home, in school, or at work) and/or family history. Our doctors work with people to identify and address the factors that underlie their concerns.

Treatment often features multiple components, including values clarification, generation of goals and related commitments, skill training for management of stress and reduction of emotional arousal/muscular tension (including mindfulness practices), use of exposure-based techniques to reduce avoidance (e.g. of feared memories and situations), skill training for communication and self-assertion, parent effectiveness training, skill training for general life management, and presentation of information about typical brain function and common psychological processes. Treatment plans are collaboratively developed with our doctors to empower people to produce the results they seek.

Specific modalities:

• Psychotherapy: May include principles and practices from a number of therapeutic approaches (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT], Dialectical Behavior Therapy [DBT], Motivational Interviewing [MI], Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy [CBT], interpersonal process therapy, and family systems therapy).
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation: May focus on development of compensatory skills that support task completion when cognitive abilities are compromised. May also promote emotional adaptation to functional limitations and related changes in circumstances.
• Behavioral pain management: May target pain and distress tolerance, expectations regarding pain reduction, and task engagement.
• Rehabilitative psychotherapy: May focus on development of skills that support compliance with healthcare team recommendations. May also promote emotional adaptation to time-limited or chronic health conditions and related changes in circumstances.

Discernment Counseling:

When one partner is considering divorce, a couple may participate in Discernment Counseling, a 1- to 5-session process that's designed to assist them in becoming clear and confident about the direction for their relationship based on having a deeper understanding of what each person "brought to the table". At the end of each session, they decide whether to return for another appointment. And at the conclusion of the process, they choose one of three paths to follow: the "status quo" (i.e. their situation remains unchanged), divorce, or a commitment to six months of couples therapy that focuses on an "agenda for change" that they wrote for themselves during the sessions.

Grief Education:

A Certified Grief Educator is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insight into the unacknowledged and often rocky terrain of grief. Such educators complete a specialized training program that's been designed by recognized grief expert David Kessler, whose unique methodology, tools, and decades of experience help individuals navigate the challenges of loss.

At CNS, forensic services reflect a commitment to accuracy, integrity, and effective communication. Claim validity is objectively appraised in cases involving questions of brain-based disorders, emotional disorders, and/or chronic pain. From initial contact with our administrative staff through case completion, rigorous procedures are used to support accurate findings and effective recommendations. In addition, our report format affords easy access to all categories of data and empowers fact-finders and other parties to cost-effectively manage legitimate claims while limiting the adverse impact and expense of invalid claims.

Types of forensic service:

• Informal verbal consultation: Discussion of indications and contraindications for referral in specific cases.
• Record review: Stand-alone service or preparation for examination. May involve written report. Relevant documents may include records from pediatrician/primary care provider and other healthcare specialists, academic transcripts and related documents, military and vocational records, police and first responder reports, images and videos, and deposition and courtroom transcripts.
• Diagnostic interview/history: May occur independently or during examination. Major areas include family structure and function, medical and behavioral health histories (including substance use), educational and vocational histories, military history, leisure and sexual histories, and legal history.
• Test administration: Tests and procedures measure pertinent domains of brain function, emotional/behavioral/personality function, and validity and are chosen in light of referral questions.
• Scoring and interpretation: Involves accepted procedures, suitable normative comparisons, judicious procedural adaptations, and bias mitigation strategies.
• Report: Scope may be adjusted to meet client needs, from brief statement of opinion and recommendations with limited delineation of basis to comprehensive explanation of opinion, underlying reasoning, and recommendations with detailed presentation of basis.
• Feedback: Available for communication of findings and recommendations to plaintiffs/claimants, family members, and other stakeholders.
• Consultation: To address a broad range of inquiries regarding cases, diagnoses, treatments, practices, and programs.
• Preparation: Prior to testimony to ensure that opinions are expressed in a clear, informative, and engaging manner. Also to maximize counsel's effectiveness in examining other witnesses.
• Testimony: Clear and straightforward communication of qualifications, professional activities and procedures, opinions, and recommendations to inform fact-finders and in anticipation of adversarial scrutiny.

Types of case:

• Civil: Plaintiff and defense, personal injury, and peer review.
• Workplace: Workers' Compensation (claimant, respondent, and Commissioner), fitness-for-duty, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and work-related disability.
• Educational due process

Collaborative Divorce (CD) was developed over 15 years ago to minimize the negative psychological, social, and economic consequences that families experience from the traditional adversarial divorce process. In particular, by removing divorce from the courtroom and introducing a team of specially-trained professionals who can help spouses address their needs, protect their children, and preserve their assets, CD enables couples to divorce with respect and dignity.

The CD team includes family lawyers, a behavioral health professional who serves as divorce coach and/or child specialist, and a financial specialist. These team members collaborate with the couple to address the three primary conversations of divorce (i.e. legal, emotional, and financial). Each family's needs and circumstances determine team members' levels of participation.

Family lawyers use nonadversarial conflict resolution and mediation skills to help clients reach agreements, and they prepare legal documents to complete the CD process. Divorce coaches are well-versed in family dynamics and issues related to separation and divorce, and they offer emotional support, teach communication skills, address parenting issues, and ensure that each spouse's needs, concerns, and feelings are understood and contained. Child specialists have expertise in child development and the impact of divorce on children, and they serve as neutral parties to meet children's needs during and after this family transition. Finally, financial professionals assist with collection of financial data and preparation of budgets, division of assets, and handling of tax-related matters.

Video: Why People Are Choosing Collaborative Divorce

Mediation:

The goal of mediation is to create a personalized divorce agreement that will be submitted to the family court to fulfill legal requirements of divorce. A mediator may be either an attorney with experience in divorce cases or a non-attorney professional who has training in family court matters. By helping people in conflict maintain their communication, explore their options, and generate settlements that work for all involved parties, mediators facilitate decision-making during this stressful period.