In our ongoing series 'Clinician Spotlight', we learn more about all the amazing clinicians here at Newton Neuropsychology Group. In this installment, we sit with Dr. Jason Alan to learn more about him!
What led you to a career in neuropsychology?
I have always been very interested in brain-behavior relationships and cognitive health as a marker of overall health. I grew up around sports and had many friends who sustained concussions, and I have always been interested in brain development. I always knew that I wanted to pursue a higher level of education and training in the field of psychology, but was initially unsure of which direction that I wanted to go. In my first job out of college, I came across a neuropsychological report in the context of my job as a case manager. I was struck by how well the provider synthesized the individual’s history, their presentation, and their treatment plan, and that was the moment that I knew what area of psychology that I wanted to pursue. My feeling was, and still is, that this type of evaluation is a critical piece in treatment planning for people presenting with a wide array of cognitive concerns. We have a unique role where we get to take time with people and really get to know the factors that influence their cognitive and emotional well-being. As a field, neuropsychology is something that I have continued to grow an even stronger passion for the longer that I do this work.
What do you love most about this field?
My interest in the field has evolved over time. Among my training areas, I spent a good deal of time with concussive head injury cases. I worked with outcome data related to the effectiveness of concussion measures which are often administered acutely after an injury, with the goal of improving their overall efficacy. My main focus in this work was keeping people safe. With other referring questions, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or cognitive concerns related to aging, the focus remains the same. My goal is to help patients and their families understand their cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and tie this understanding to the recommendations that we give, whether this be resources, referrals, or strategies.
Regardless of the concern or focus, neuropsychologists have a unique ability to guide people in their care. In addition to the time we spend with patients, we get to take time to talk to their families and providers, to reach a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of their presentation and concerns. I love that in addition to the benefit that patients get from our reports, their other providers can look at our reports and have measurable indicators of their cognitive health and recommendations that can help the individuals improve over time.
What do you hope clients can gain from working with you?
I hope clients gain a better understanding of their cognitive functioning, and the unique factors that influence how they think and feel. Very often, we have people who come to us and may not understand something like the role of mental health, poor sleep, and even medical factors on the brain and how these can present. I hope individuals gain an understanding of themselves and the things they can do to improve their functioning in a way that feels congruent to their goals and experience. Additionally, I always like to leave communication open after the evaluation and let folks know they can reach out anytime. So often, a neuropsychological evaluation is the beginning of the journey, and my goal is to be the person to set them on a path towards treatment that feels effective for them. I always tell people my favorite part of the evaluation process is the feedback session. Feedback is where we put it all together. Not only what is going on with a person, but importantly, what we can do about it. Those really salient recommendations are the key to an effective evaluation.
How do you like to unwind after work?
My favorite things to do outside of work are spending time with my wife, my friends, and my pup. I like to hike as often as I can. I have also rediscovered cooking over the past year. My wife is the baker so I had to keep up with her somehow! I also like going on day trips, playing golf, and playing tennis as well. I would tell anyone that it is critically important to unwind after work and take time to recharge with those you care about, or with activities that you enjoy!
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