Clinician : Learning Specialist : Researcher

Professional Experience

present Thinking Outside the Classroom :: Framingham

Coach adolescents in executive function skills for increasing academic proficiencies. Focus is on organization, study and test-taking skills, planning, increasing attentional and memory capacity, expository and rhetorical writing, reading, discovering and enhancing individual learning styles.

present Sandtrayworks :: Cambridge

Private practice offering sandtray work for individuals and groups. Sandtray is a medium in which people can create miniature 'worlds' from small three dimensional objects. Primarily used in this context as a tool for self-exploration, learning improvement, personal development, and a range of learning difficulties.

2011 Tools of the Mind Study :: Arlington, Lynn

Research Assistant on study investigating executive function in kindergarteners, and changes in same, as effected by innovative curriculum called Tools of the Mind. Position entails administering test batteries evaluating attention, working memory, self-regulation and a range of academic competencies in pre- and post- conditions.

present Doctoral Research :: Boston

Investigation into the restitution and conceptual underpinnings of expressive language in severe brain injury. Used sandtray medium as a basis for narrative constructions. Research has been carried out at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, under Department of Neuropsychology.

2010 - 11 Little Sprouts Child Enrichment Centers :: Lawrence, Andover, Roxbury

Perform bi-annual assessments of expressive and receptive language in children ages 3 to 6. Work is being accomplished in connection with federal grant examining effects of classroom interventions on early literacy.

2001 - 04 Arbour Health System :: Malden, Boston

Consulted to various inner city schools, including Somerville, Chelsea, Boston. Carried out psychoeducational evaluations and counseled at-risk students of all ages. Issues included amongst others, learning difficulties, divorce, incarceration of a parent, family violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and a range of socio-economic pressures. Made classroom observations and advised teachers on specific approaches to individual learning styles and behavioral issues. Collaborated with parents, teachers and other team members to ensure children’s needs were fully met. Conducted educational program to foster conflict resolution and socialization skills in elementary grades. Performed in-home behavioral and educational evaluations for local Head Start program.

2003 ClubZ Tutoring :: Stoughton

Private in-home tutoring of high school student attending a special needs school. Assisted with organization, study skills, concept generation, formulation of both short- and long-term academic goals, test taking, essay writing.

2002-03 Mohonk Charter School :: Boston

Member of founder group for proposed charter school (grades 6-12); were selected as finalists. Program applied ‘brain-based’ pedagogic principles, i.e., using recent discoveries in memory, attention, individual learning styles, open-ended formats, etc., to enhance students’ learning. Participated in all aspects of proposal. Had central role in developing school philosophy; curriculum, including alignment with Massachusetts frameworks; assessment protocol; community outreach; and accountability. Developed program of competency-based applications, to serve both students and their families in our learning lab.

2002 Mystic Valley Regional Charter School :: Malden

Conducted psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations of children ages 4 to 13. Population included visual dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome, head injury, learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders. Had extensive contact with families; offered guidance on utilizing a range of community-based resources. Involved in IEP planning and delineating educational and behavioral goals. Worked closely with teachers, both within and outside the classroom, to ensure successful implementation.

2001 - 02 Curry College :: Milton

Faculty member in Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL). Taught, tutored and counseled students with learning disabilities. Interfaced extensively with educational, social and familial systems, so learning and emotional needs could be addressed comprehensively. Assisted students with a range of class assignments, including such areas as organization of thought, grammar, composition, literature interpretation, study skills, time management, and socialization issues. Led groups examining students' dreams. Developed self-evaluation program, to identify students’ strengths, curiosities, and passions as unique learners. Also carried out psychoeducational evaluations at school's Educational Diagnostic Center.

1992 - 97 Accessibility Consultant :: Boston

Consultant on accessibility issues for new projects and existing architectural settings. Reviewed construction documents for compliance with federal and state regulations and appropriateness of such elements as signage, lighting and tactile surfaces.

1992 - 94 Boston Neurobehavioral Institute :: Brighton

Predoctoral internship in neuropsychology. Administered evaluations of patients with various etiologies, including stroke, dementia, head injury, autism spectrum, developmental disorders, lead intoxication, and learning disabilities. A broad focus in the clinic was early childhood development. Other duties included initial review of medical records and participation in research on childhood lead poisoning.

1992 - 94 Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission :: Boston

Research Assistant on two studies undertaken by the Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP), focusing on special education and substance abuse issues, as impact brain injured persons. Responsibilities included: reviewing and extracting information from medical records; modifying questionnaires for use with cognitively impaired population; administering instruments; quality control; interviewing staff at clinical locations; and assessing efficacy of evaluative measures.

1990 - 92 Medical Service Center :: Boston

Clinician in outpatient rehabilitation program (Liberty Mutual) for persons with back injuries. Developed criteria and evaluated patients for admission, performed psychological and neuropsychological testing, conducted group and individual therapy. Designed ‘whole brain’ body-mind program to enhance patients’ cognitive awareness and sense of capacity. Led groups examining patients' dreams. Generated standards for evaluating successful outcomes. Collaborated with other disciplines to create a coherent rehabilitative environment.

1987 Comprehensive Rehabilitation Associates :: Newton

Provided counseling, job development and placement for injured workers with both cognitive and medical restrictions. Responsibilities included: intake interviews; evaluation of family and social structures; interventions to improve self-esteem; testing for vocational interests and aptitudes; interface with other health care providers; and devising rehabilitation plans leading to return-to-work.

1986 - 87 Braintree Hospital :: Braintree

Counselor/Case Manager in Supported Work Program for head injured patients. Determined job-related capacities based on physical, neuropsychological and occupational evaluations; provided counseling and cognitive therapy around work and independent living issues; developed job opportunities; interfaced with families. Worked extensively with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, serving as liaison for patients.

1982 - 84 Boston Architectural College :: Boston

Assistant to instructor of architectural drawing. Conducted classes and offered individual teaching to students.

1980 - 86 Architects + Associated Designers, Inc. :: Boston

Principal position. Engaged in client interface; programming; design; specifications; detailing and construction management on projects in health care, education, public facilities, and housing. Was involved in the development of comprehensive accessibility design for clients in both public and private sectors. Assisted developers in evaluation and conversion of distressed residential and commercial properties.

Education

Saybrook University :: San Francisco Ph.D. program in psychology, focus on neuropsychology

Presently completing doctoral research

Cambridge College Cambridge M.Ed., Counseling Psychology

New England School of Art & Design :: Boston Cert., Environmental Architecture/Design

Harpur College SUNY :: Binghamton B.A., Liberal Arts

Askov Hojskolen :: Denmark Major: Fine Arts, Psychology

Brandeis University :: Waltham Major: Fine Arts, Psychology

Committees

Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) :: Boston (1987 - 94)

Community Advisory Board; chaired subcommittee on DMH support of neurological patients

Center for Neurobehavioral Rehabilitation :: Waltham (1987 - 98)

o Community Advisory Board

o Human Rights Committee

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital :: Boston (1999, 2001 - 05)

o Human Rights Committee (Chairperson, 2000 - 05)

Mentor Head Injury Program :: Woburn (1988 - 89)

Awards

Thuss Award (outstanding essay of the year, 1992 ) Saybrook University

Valedictorian (proseminar ) Cambridge College

National Merit Scholar State of New York

National Honor Society State of New York

Research / Essays

--The TOTE logic system applied to the concept of diffuse brain trauma. Saybrook Graduate School, 1990

--A phenomenological investigation into the experience of patients undergoing neuropsychological assessment. Saybrook Graduate School, 1991

--Disorders of the will. Saybrook Graduate School, 1992

--Walter Freeman Jr,. lobotomist. Saybrook Graduate School, 1992

--An investigation of the language/cognition of patients with closed head injury: Preliminary reports. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 1995, 1996; ongoing doctoral research

--with Francis R. Sparadeo. Knowledge-based attitudes on substance abuse in the head-injured population. Statewide Head Injury Program, 1994

Quality of Academic Work:

Prequalifying essay: Disorders of the Will

“Ms. _______’s . . . essay on disorders of the will traced, with conceptual clarity and historical erudition, the development of the separate, experiencing, self-referencing self from pre-Homeric times to the present, and . . . discussed the development of will and intentionality, and problems with them, especially as they occur in brain-damaged people . . . her essay is very poetic and moving . . . This essay should be published.”

Thomas Greening, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University; editor, American Humanist

Prequalifying essay: Walter Freeman, Jr., Lobotomist

“Ms. _______’s essay . . . is one of the best pieces of research I have yet seen at Saybrook . . . Ms. ______ shows how psychosurgery presented itself as the scientific/technological answer to the farrago of psychological theory and psychotherapeutic praxes prevalent in the forties and fifties in America . . . [and] uses her analysis of Freeman’s ideologies as a way of . . . critiqu[ing] . . . medical rationality . . . through a remarkable analysis of Greek tragedy . . . This is definitely a significant piece of research.”

Anthony Stigliano, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University

Prequalifying essay (Methodological critique of fellow student’s dissertation proposal):

“I have read several methodology essays focused on this dissertation proposal, and _____’s is the most astute I [have] encountered. She raises fundamental questions about the nature of outcome research on brain injury and recovery.”

David Lukoff, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University

Introduction to Neuropsychology: Pribram’s TOTE model

“______ went far beyond the expectations of the course, creating an 85-page document that examined . . . Pribram’s TOTE model . . . sort[ing] out the aspects in it relevant to closed head . . . trauma.”

Jeanne Achterberg, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University

Independent Study: Assessment of traumatic brain injury

“_____’s comprehensive review of the assessment of behavioral problems in traumatic brain injury . . . was . . . well-written and articulated an original approach to assessment of brain injured person’s based on a developmental approach to stages in the recovery process . . . I consider this paper to be of publishable quality.”

David Lukoff, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University

Research Practicum: A phenomenological investigation of the experience of patients undergoing neuropsychological assessment

“______[‘s] . . . criterion for finishing academic work is wholly intrinsic . . . Her analyses . . . were excellent. One cannot expect more . . . than _____ gives.”

Amedeo Giorgi, Ph.D. Faculty, Saybrook University

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