What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is the study of the structure and function of the brain and how these functions relate to behaviour as well as psychological processes. It is both an experimental field of study as well as a clinical discipline that attempts to understand, assess and treat behaviours related to brain functioning.What is the difference between Neuropsychology vs. Psychology vs. Psychiatry vs. Neurology?
A Clinical Psychologist has an MA or PHD and is concerned with diagnosing, through the use of standardized measures, psychiatric conditions, emotional disturbances, and behaviour problems, and treating these conditions using various verbal, cognitive and behaviour modification techniques. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. They can prescribe medications. A Neurologist is a medical doctor who is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system – the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.What is your specialty and what are you are licensed to practice within the province of Ontario?
I am a Clinical Psychologist with professional specialty in Clinical Neuropsychology for adults and the elderly. I am registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (License Number 3506). Based in Kingston, I provide the full range of clinical psychology services to individuals and couples in the south eastern Ontario region. The majority of work I do is conducting neuropsychological and psychological assessments, often of individuals who have suffered head or brain trauma from an accident, but I also assess those following strokes, tumours and aneurysms, as well as other metabolic disorders that lead to cognitive changes. I also see patients for individual therapy to help them or their family members cope with the changes they face as a result of injuries or illnesses.How long have you been in practice?
I was licensed to practice psychology in Quebec in 1995. I was licensed to practice in Ontario in 1999, where I have continued to maintain my professional activities in academic, hospital and private practice settings. I have been performing private practice-based independent assessments and medical legal assessments since January 2001. I have been performing Catastrophic Determination assessments since 2007.Is your office PHIPA and PIPEDA compliant?
Yes. The manner in which our office handles medical/personal health information is compliant with both the Personal Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), as well as the federal statute, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). A statement on Privacy Policy for my practice is available and is presented at the outset of each initial interview with all patients seen in my office.Have you ever been convicted of any wrong doings and/or clinical malpractice throughout your professional career?
No.Do you have the capabilities to receive and send information securely via fax and/or the internet?
Yes. I have a J2 Fax account, which provides secure fax transmission and reception via the Internet. I also use password-encryption (both read and write) for all electronically transmitted documents, reports or patient information. Email correspondence should be directed to me at: duncan@daypsych.ca Or contact my office manager at: admin@daypsych.caAre you able to conduct assessments/treatment in your office and other locations to which you have access to conduct assessments and/or provide treatment.
I see patients at my private office at 11 Princess St. Suite #203 in Kingston. I also test patients across southeastern Ontario.Are you willing to travel to complete assessments at a neutral venue if necessary?
Yes. However, due to costs of travel involved I encourage patients to attend interview and testing sessions in my Kingston office. When this is not feasible, I travel to and see patients across much of southeastern Ontario. I travel to Toronto, Whitby, Oshawa, Belleville, Port Hope, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Cornwall for neuropsychological assessments. I typically bill per hour traveled. However, mutually acceptable flat rate fees have also been arranged with different providers. Overnights, when necessary, involve additional fees and are typically negotiated on a separate basis.What is a typical Neuropsychological Assessment like?
A typical neuropsychological assessment takes a full day with the patient, sometimes more, measuring a number of different aspects of functioning and coping. This process includes:- Detailed Clinical Interview (this usually lasts 1 – 3 hours)
- Detailed File Review (approximately 100 pages per hour)
- Administering standardized tests and procedures that measure functioning in a number of domains (this can take anywhere from 4 – 10 hours), including:
- Intelligence
- Academic and achievement abilities
- Attention (processing speed, sustained and divided attention, complex)
- Memory and learning (auditory vs. visual, incidental memory, complex)
- Visuospatial and construction abilities
- Executive functions (planning, organization, problem solving, etc.)
- Language (receptive and expressive)
- Perceptual and sensory motor abilities
- Psychological status (coping, emotional problems, behaviour and personality issues)
- Pain Assessment
- Performance Validity, Symptom Validity and Effort Testing (malingering, symptom exaggeration)
What is your professional fee (i.e. flat fee) for completing assessments and for providing treatment services.
Starting in January 2019 we are changing to a simpler more inclusive flate rate fee structure. This reflects the standards of the assessment fees typically found in our area and reflects requests from clients over the years for a simpler, more inclusive system. Documentation review can drive up the costs of an assessment. Any additional documentation reviewed over the 100 pages included in the flat fee should be negotiated in advance. We do charge late cancellation fees and “No Show” fees. Please contact our office directly for a complete breakdown of our fee structure.
