Dr. Robbins obtained a Master’s degree in Counseling Adults and Adolescents from Boston College in 1991. During that time she spent 5 years working with residential head injured patients and completed an internship with this population. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston in 1997. As part of this program, she completed an internship in pain management at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston and a Pre-Doctoral Internship at Tewksbury State Hospital in Massachusetts.

After graduation from her doctoral program, Dr. Robbins completed an American Psychological Association approved residency in clinical neuropsychology through New England Medical Center’s training program.

It is one of the healthcare specialties in the clinical neurosciences and a specialty in clinical psychology. Its focus is on understanding the relationships between brain function and behavior in daily living. Its purpose is to provide information to the client, doctors and other professionals, families, schools and other agencies about an individual’s strengths and weaknesses in thinking and about interventions, treatment, therapies and accommodations that would be effective in serving the individual’s needs.

For more information, contact Dr. Robbins’ office at (928) 774-7778.

It is a unique and comprehensive assessment of multiple brain functions and how an individual’s abilities or impairments affect thinking, behavior and day-to-day living. The tests typically include several measures of general cognitive function, attention, language, visuospatial function, memory, executive function, and motor skills, emotional behavior and personality. A person’s test performance is usually compared to that of others their age.

A typical evaluation takes several hours of face-to-face contact plus several additional hours of test scoring, interpretation and report preparation. The assessment may be customized to address specific questions for the individual client. Additional tests may be included to gain more information about a particular area of strength or weakness.

Test results are typically interpreted in context of a person’s background and life history, medical tests and changes in behavior or circumstances. The test results generate a report that may include any of the following:

• Clarifying a diagnosis
• Determining the nature and extent of a person’s decline or improvement
• Comparison with prior test results to determine increased need for services or improvement with treatment
• Recommendations for and specifying types of cognitive rehabilitation, accommodations in the learning environment, vocational needs or on the job accommodations
• Recommendations for placement or community services to provide for safety or assistance in daily living

For more information, contact Dr. Robbins’ office at (928) 774-7778.

Dr. Robbins receives referrals from physicians (e.g., neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, etc,) and community agencies for the purpose of documenting their patients’ cognitive and emotional concerns. Upon recommendation from a physician, Dr. Robbins will meet with a patient for an evaluation.

Referrals come from many sources, such as medical doctors, psychiatrists or neurologists. They may also come from schools, courts or individuals themselves. They are frequently part of a diagnostic workup for individuals with a wide variety of problems. Such referrals often ask for help dealing with neuropsychological problems, such as:

• Change in cognitive function after a stroke or other brain damage or progressive neurological disease
• Changes in function after a head injury and updated assessments of improvement with recovery and treatment
• Clarification of dementia versus delirium in acutely ill patients
• Evaluation of dementia versus depression in elderly patients
• Evaluation of types of dementia (such as Alzheimer’s Disease) and extent of decline, need for services
• Evaluation of learning and attention disorders
• Evaluation of the effects of long-term alcohol or substance abuse
• Evaluation of the effects of seizure disorders on functioning
• Evaluation of the effects of psychiatric disorders on cognitive and day to day function

For more information, contact Dr. Robbins’ office at (928) 774-7778.

Neuropsychological evaluations are completed by a clinical neuropsychologist. This is a psychologist who has additional formal training and expertise in disorders associated with brain dysfunction.

Qualifications to become a neuropsychologist might include:

• Being a licensed psychologist
• Having graduate course work
• Having formal post doctoral training in neuropsychological assessment
• Having board certification in the specialized techniques of neuropsychological assessment and interpretation

Neuropsychologists are familiar with cognitive patterns associated with the differential diagnosis of disorders of cerebral dysfunction, such as dementias, head injuries, strokes and other brain damage from neurological disorders, learning and attention problems, alcohol and substance abuse. Neuropsychologists frequently work in medical hospitals, rehabilitation facilities or in private practice.

With an advanced doctoral-level degree and fellowships in clinical neuropsychology and other work experience over the past 20 years, Dr. Robbins brings expertise and compassion to her practice.

For more information, contact Dr. Robbins’ office at (928) 774-7778.

Dr. Robbins accepts most insurance plans. Medicare and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) are usually accepted. A physician referral is usually required, and a neuropsychological exam is deemed medically necessary in order to receive insurance coverage.

For more information, contact Dr. Robbins’ office at (928) 774-7778.

A neuropsychological evaluation takes many hours and you will need to arrive in the morning and plan for rest and lunch breaks. You will need to bring eyeglasses, hearing aids or other equipment that you need to do well on the tests. You will talk with the neuropsychologist about your problems and concerns. You will also be asked to give your medical, family, work and education background.