DR. HERZ AND FORWARD PSYCHOLOGY GROUP, LLC

I am a licensed psychologist (Wisconsin, 1992) in independent practice. My specialites include neuropsychology and health and rehabilitation psychology. I work with individuals age 16 through older adult years, in individual, couples, family and small group formats. I am experienced in helping with a wide range of problems affecting a person’s mood, thinking and behavior, with emphasis on helping those living with pain other physical health conditions in which stress and stress management play an important role. I provide care to residents and consultation to staff in many skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the Madison area. I also provide memory improvement education and training to individuals and small groups. I have provided expert work in psychological- and neuropsychological-legal matters, and have qualified as an expert in Dane County and Dodge County Circuit Courts.

memory.

A Neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specializes in understanding, measuring, and treating conditions involving the brain and behavior. ”Behavior” means “cognitive” (thinking) skills like paying attention, solving problems, learning and remembering; feeling and expressing emotions; and physical (“motor”) skills. Neuropsychological evaluation uses tests and measures to determine how the brain is functioning by measuring behavior. Common tests you may have heard about that could be used include IQ and memory tests.

What are the tests like? The neuropsychologist will ask for background information, and help you become comfortable in the office. A family member may be with you during an initial interview, but not during testing as this might be distracting. The tests let you try to do things like listen to and remember information, answer questions out loud, read, write, calculate, and solve puzzles. Some tests are timed and measure how quick you are, but many are not timed. Some measure your sense of touch, vision and hearing, and may require the examiner to touch you briefly on the hands or face. None of the tests hurt or cause discomfort. Should you ever become uncomfortable, or cannot concentrate or want a break, let the examiner know right away. Some people have mild “performance anxiety, ” but otherwise there are no known risks or side effects.

How can you tell if my functioning has changed if you never tested me before my illness or injury? This is a very frequent question. The neuropsychologist looks for patterns in the test scores to infer how the brain is working. This requires a thorough knowledge of the brain and the tests, and how these relate. Test results are also compared to others similar to you in age and education. In some cases school records, results from tests you may have had before, and information about specialized training, experience or work you have done may help estimate your prior abilities.