What is Clinical Neuropsychology?
What does an assessment involve?
What types of questions can be addressed in an assessment?
What happens after that?
What about the other services offered?
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment please feel free to contact us or use the form provided under New Patients.
Clinical Neuropsychology is a specialist field of psychology that focuses on the effect of altered brain functioning on thinking skills (cognition), behaviour and emotions. These changes can be as a result of brain injury, stroke, illness (e.g. tumour, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy), deteriorating mental state (e.g. dementia), psychiatric conditions, drug or alcohol abuse among other conditions.
The assessment will vary depending on a persons individual circumstances and the questions we are trying to answer. It normally involves an interview about a persons background history, what they perceive as the presenting issues and an in depth discussion around their goals and what they are hoping to gain from the assessment. Tests are then administered according to these goals. These tests can be pen and paper tasks, questionnaires on an iPad or answering questions given by the assessor. It can take from one to three hours. Often it is also valuable to have the input from a significant other but this is up to the individual.
An assessment can address questions around many aspects of a person's life depending on individual goals. You may want information about support you will need in going back to work, living alone or returning to driving. Or maybe things feel very different for you now and you are wanting to know why. Or perhaps your relationships are strained and people are saying you are different - what does this mean? These questions and many others can be addressed with an assessment. If you are unsure whether your questions can be examined in an assessment, please feel free to get in touch to discuss it with us.
After an assessment, you will have at least one follow up appointment to discuss the results and recommendations. A formal report will be written and provided to the referrer and/or funder as appropriate. If there are goals that we can work on together (e.g. managing low mood or anxiety, putting in place strategies to manage thinking difficulties etc), further appointments can be scheduled. We can also refer out to other providers to address goals that are not covered by our service (e.g. return to driving assessment, exercise programs etc.).
The other services offered can be commenced with or without an assessment. Assessments are only conducted if clinically indicated or specifically requested by the referrer. We can also offer ongoing support and interventions after an assessment has been conducted by another provider.
About Dr Jo Sherry
Dr Jo Sherry BBSc Hons PhD (DClinNeuropsych) MAPS
Dr Jo Sherry is a principal Clinical Neuropsychologist, founder and co-director at Geelong Neuropsychology. Dr Sherry completed a PhD and advanced Doctoral program in Clinical Neuropsychology at La Trobe University in 2008. She is a registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and has an endorsement in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology. She is also a board approved supervisor and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Since graduating Dr Sherry has worked across the public and private sectors predominately in rehabilitation with acquired brain injury across the severity spectrum. She has a particular interest in management and treatment of concussion and post-concussion syndrome. She also works with other neurological conditions, provides behaviour support, has experience in alcohol and addiction conditions, has worked in the medicolegal context and will provide service or secondary consultancy. Dr Sherry also has experience in the management and treatment of other traumatic conditions without the inclusion of head injury. She has worked extensively with multi-trauma orthopaedic patients and traumatic amputee patients providing rehabilitation recommendations, counselling and support.
Dr Sherry’s passion is in working with each individual and their families to establish their unique needs and develop plans and strategies for meeting these goals. She aspires to work in a client centred manner which includes full collaboration with everyone who is involved with the person.
Dr Sherry can be seen in the East Geelong clinic on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
About Dr Michelle Morandin
Dr Michelle Morandin BA (Hons) DPsych (Clin Neuro)
Dr Michelle Morandin joins Geelong Neuropsychology in August 2022, as a principal neuropsychologist and co-director.
Michelle comes from her private practice, Surf Coast Neuropsychology (Est. 2016), providing accessibility to psychology and neuropsychology services to people living along the Great Ocean Rd and beyond.
Dr Michelle Morandin completed her Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology in 2006. She is registered as a psychologist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), is endorsed in the area of Clinical Neuropsychology and is a board approved supervisor.
After graduating Michelle, worked across a wide variety of settings in the public and private health system. These included working in adult and aged psychiatry, drug and alcohol services and medicolegal settings.
Over the last 12 years Michelle has worked extensively in team-based brain injury rehabilitation, covering post-concussion recovery, severe traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological and degenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s dementia. In her private practice, she has further developed her intervention skills, working with individuals suffering depression, anxiety and adjustment issues relating to a major life event.
Michelle enjoys working with not only the client, but the whole support network. She is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals and collaborating with family and other services to address cognitive behavioural concerns. Her philosophy is to provide clinically and scientifically sound assessment and treatment, while working in a warm and collaborative way.
Michelle can be seen at either the Geelong or Torquay clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
