TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 • 20
BACK TO SCHOOL RSM Psychology Center LLC in Princeton Helps Students Improve School Performance
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stablished by Dr. Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, RSM Psychology Center LLC opened in Princeton in 2014, after 19 years in Lawrenceville. The center offers neuropsychological evaluations and treatments that can help students as well as older adults. As Dr. Moser explains, RSM “specializes in comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological services for school-age children through older adults. We believe in a treatment approach which is direct, problem-oriented, and solution-focused, and which can be individually or family-oriented.” Dr. Moser, who received a PhD in professional psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, is a boardcertified neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist, and a state-certified school psychologist. She is also an adjunct professor of clinical psychology at Widener University, and is internationally recognized for her work in the area of sports concussions. A fellow of the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, she is the recipient of
many awards and honors in the field. An important feature of RSM’s work is its focus on neuropsychological evaluations. As Dr. Moser explains, neuropsychologists have an understanding and knowledge regarding brain/ behavior connections that is more specialized than that of a general clinical psychologist. Brain/Behavior Connections “We are neuropsychologists who are experts in brain/behavior connections. For example, if a child sustains a concussion, a neuropsychologist understands what cognitive functions are affected and which aren’t and how the child will recover and be able to handle school. Neuropsychologists are trained to administer specialized tests (assessing different brain and neurocognitive functions) that the typical psychologist does not, and they know what the pattern of results means in terms of the person’s academic, work, and social/ emotional performance. “For example, when it comes to learning, neuropsychologists know the
differences between attention, short-term memory, episodic memory, procedural memory, recognition and recall memory, long-term, retrieval, storage, etc. This affects learning on a daily basis as well as more formally in school. It affects how parents and children, teachers and students communicate when they share information, discuss, interpret, and question what they say. “Neuropsychologists can identify the structures and functions that need remediation and help develop plans to improve and/or compensate or get around the difficulties. They also help family members, school personnel, and loved ones understand what the person is experiencing and may not really have full control over.” Such evaluations can be especially helpful for students who may not be performing to their potential in school. As Dr. Moser observes, “When academic grades are less than expected, it is not uncommon for parents immediately to seek tutoring and popular learning center services. But, before ‘treatment’ occurs, isn’t it best to have an expert evaluation to
be sure that the treatment is targeting the real issue? For example, many students are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder after a couple of paper-pencil surveys. But, paper-pencil surveys or an interview are not enough to rule out other possible ‘real’ causes of attention difficulties, such as auditory processing difficulties, a reading disorder, or just being really bright, creative, and bored in the classroom.” Dr. Moser points out that neuropsychological evaluations can help identify their clients’ strengths and weaknesses and develop treatments to help them learn and perform their best at school or on the job. These evaluations provide the evidence and documentation required if they need special consideration and accommodation, such as extended time on tests and assignments, access to notes, a separate room for testing, writing skills support, etc. In-Depth Testing “When a student seems not to be performing up to his or her potential, a neuropsychologist can provide the in-depth testing to answer questions about why
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More than daycare New Pre-K for 4-year-olds @ Chapin School Princeton!
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