In our ongoing Spotlight Series, we learn more about all the amazing people here at Newton Neuropsychology Group. In this installment, we sit with Danyca Santillan to learn more about her!
What led you to NNG?
I absolutely love the brain and had unwavering goals of pursuing a career in the field ever since I could remember! The only thing was that I wasn’t really interested in research, and as a neuroscience major, that was kind of a nonnegotiable. So as I navigated my way through working in wet labs, I found myself longing to work with other people and have meaningful client interactions. Happy to say that after graduating, I was offered a psychometrist position with Newton Neuro and I truly could not be happier! It embodies everything I could want in a profession; data and research backed practice, but also the face to face interaction in working with people. The bridging of brain and behavior never ceases to amaze me and I’m beyond ecstatic to be here.
What do you love most about NNG?
I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful staff and clinicians, the people are what I love most about Newton Neuro for sure! Everyone genuinely wants to see each other thrive. I feel seen as a person and I could chat with everyone endlessly, it makes such a supportive atmosphere! Being around such great company makes me excited to be in the office, it’s increased my passion for the field and has been a huge help in gaining the confidence I needed to take the first steps outside of college. I have a lot of pride in the practice and love being in a place where I know I am supported and valued.
What do you hope clients gain from working with you?
My goal when working with clients is that they feel seen, safe, and validated. Testing sessions can be daunting and nerve wracking but my favorite thing is when a client tells me that, “hey, that wasn’t as bad as I was expecting!” For many people, seeking mental healthcare is not linear and often not easy. It’s an honor to be able to be a part of the mental health journeys of so many people! I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable and more importantly empowered to try their best and voice their thoughts. I want them to leave feeling proud that they’ve come this far in the process of getting to know themselves better.
What do you find most rewarding about being a psychometrist?
The most rewarding thing about being a psychometrist is definitely the people I work with. I love getting to see how people react and respond to tests; no two people come in and work in the same way or have the same conversation with me. It’s incredible, and I feel so privileged to be able to connect with so many people from so many walks of life!
What types of things do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love living in a place that has different seasons and getting to do all the seasonal activities like ice skating in the winter, picnicking in the spring, tide-pooling in the summer, and apple picking in the fall! But sandwiched between all those things I love being cozy at home. I enjoy reading, crafting, and playing video games, anything that lets my imagination take the reins! I’m a self proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a big fan of f1, and I find a lot of joy in traveling when I can, especially when I can go home to the Philippines.
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