Services

Yorlan Psychological Associates values its long-term relationship with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and collaborates to provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations needed to provide occupational and academic recommendations for individuals with disabilities.  Occupational testing is also helpful for individuals who are not disabled, but require assistance in determining career goals appropriate to their natural strengths and limitations.  In this way, individuals are more likely to succeed and attain fulfillment from their career.

A learning disability is a discrepancy between one’s general intellectual ability (IQ) and performance on tests of reading, writing, and math. When academic skills are substantially below what is expected for a person’s age, and cause interference with academic or occupational functioning, a learning disorder is suspected.  The cause is neurological—it is not a reflection of motivation or laziness and cannot be overcome by sheer willpower or tutoring.  The only way a learning disability can be diagnosed is by neuropsychological testing or neuropsychological assessment, also called psychoeducational testing.

It’s important for you to have an evaluation done correctly. We recommend scheduling for an initial clinical interview first, which will include collection of detailed academic, cognitive, medical, and emotional history.  At that point, determination of appropriates tests are made, and formal testing is scheduled.  Once testing is completed, your psychologist writes the report and schedules a feedback session to review results and recommendations collaboratively.  At Yorlan, our reports are routinely accepted for academic and occupational accommodations and we know the specific requirements to access disability services. Call us today for an appointment and have your testing done correctly

Yorlan also provides intellectual testing to help determine intellectual abilities for children, adolescents, and adults.  There are two main reasons for intellectual testing.  Sometimes children are quite bright, but are unchallenged in their current academic placement.  Testing can assist in determining if a child qualifies as gifted.  If identified as gifted, a professional evaluation can provide data to initiate a Gifted Individualized Education Program (GIEP), which provides more challenging academic programming such as advanced and gifted placement.

Other children may struggle with all classes and subjects despite effort and motivation to do well.  They may require support to make decisions, plan, make social judgments, and perform activities of daily living such as personal care and safety.  In this case, an intellectual disability may be the underlying cause.  Intellectual testing helps to identify intellectual ability level as well as one’s ability to perform tasks of daily living.  If identified as Intellectually Disabled (ID), a professional report qualifies an individual to all services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the brain’s development of language, communication, cognition, and social skills.  Autism exists on a spectrum, from a very mild condition of social awkwardness (previously called Asperger’s Syndrome), to the severe form in which intellectual abilities are also often impacted. Persons with autism spectrum illness exhibit social interaction difficulties, problems in verbal and nonverbal communication, as infants may not want to be touched or held, repeats certain words or phrases or physical movements, and may require their environment be the same—that is, they may not tolerate certain changes in diet or environment.

Autism Spectrum Illness can be difficult to diagnose, and it can be confused with other neuropsychological conditions, such as Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD). However, an accurate autism diagnosis is critical so that important therapeutic services may be instituted.  An evaluation is the first step toward finding out if you or your child or loved one has autism spectrum illness. We recommend scheduling for a initial clinical interview first, which will include collection of detailed academic, cognitive, medical, and emotional history.  At that point, determination of appropriates tests are made, and formal testing is scheduled.  Once testing is completed, your psychologist writes the report and schedules a feedback session to review results and recommendations collaboratively.

A fitness-for-duty exam is a medical examination of a current or potential employee to determine whether the employee is physically or psychologically able to perform the job. Sometimes, fitness-for-duty exams are required when an employee is ready to return to work after taking time off for a serious illness or injury. A fitness-for-duty exam might also be required of an employee to ensure they are able to perform the job safely. In general, fitness for duty evaluations aim to determine if a condition may prevent a employee from performing their occupational functions, and to assess if the employee poses a direct threat to his/her own safety or the safety of others.

A fitness for duty evaluation typically consists of a physical examination by a medical physician, followed by a psychological evaluation.  The psychological evaluation involves a comprehensive clinical interview and personality test, commonly the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) or Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Standard forms are completed and forwarded to the appropriate facilities to make the ultimate determination if the employee is fit for duty.  These evaluations are not covered by insurance since there is no identified condition, and are often covered by the employer or are the responsibility of the employee.

Topics include:

1. Emotional Eating
2. Food/Trigger Tracking
3. Breaking the cycle of binging, restricting, guilt, and shame
4. Chain Analysis
5. Why Dieting Doesn’t Work by Sandra Aamondt
6. Ganeen Roth’s Personal Eating Guidelines
7. Stages of Change
8. Listening to important hunger and fullness cues
9. Mindful eating
10. Core Beliefs
11. Habit Change
12. Personal Values, Goals and Motivation

The Anger Management Group is for men and women who recognize problem anger in their lives and are motivated to work on making changes. This structured 10 week group meets Tuesday evenings and will help individuals understand the sources of their anger, develop skills to decrease the frequency and intensity of their anger and learn how to express it in more helpful ways. Participants should be at least 18 years old. Individuals referred by the courts and/or probation will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Most insurances are accepted.

Dave has facilitated this group since 2004. He is a Certified Anger Management Specialist II and a Fellow with the National Anger Management Association.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. All TBI’s, regardless of severity, can result in significant change in emotional, cognitive and physical health, especially if unmanaged.  Symptoms often impact all aspects of a person’s life, including relationships, ability to work, do household tasks, drive, and/or participate in other activities of daily living.  Adapting to new limitations and coping with physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms is a challenge, often resulting in or exacerbating symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or anger.

Outpatient psychological therapy with a specialist in behavioral medicine assists in symptom management, learning how to cope with limitations, developing new coping and compensatory strategies, connecting with community resources, and referral for neuropsychological testing when appropriate.  Since sudden changes in emotions, personality and cognitive ability are also difficult for the family members of those impacted by TBI, family is included in treatment and goals.  A psychologist is also able to serve as an advocate for academic and occupational accommodations, especially if the individual is identified as disabled.

In addition to the Overcoming Overeating group offered at Yorlan, individual outpatient therapy is also offered to address emotional and behavioral factors associated with eating habits.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify core beliefs related to past experiences impacting current behaviors.  In addition, mindfulness and nutritional awareness is encouraged, with an emphasis on improving overall self-care and feelings of worth.

Bariatric surgery has emerged as an effective and lasting alternative for weight reduction and improved general health. As part of a multidisciplinary team, psychologists are responsible for the preoperative psychological assessment of bariatric candidates. The psychological assessment is designed to ensure that you are psychologically ready for the procedure and prepared to embrace the behavior changes required to meet success after surgery.

The psychological evaluation consists of a one hour clinical interview with a psychologist specializing in behavioral medicine, followed by about one hour of personality, mood, and symptom screening. Once the evaluation and report is completed, a feedback session is scheduled to review the report and subsequent recommendations.  Ultimately, it is left to the referring physician to make the decision to proceed or not with bariatric surgery.  Some people choose to continue outpatient therapy to obtain added support and treatment through the bariatric surgery and recovery process.  In addition, participation in the Overcoming Overeating group offered at Yorlan is suggested to learn and understand the emotional factors underlying eating behaviors, as well as developing new coping strategies.

Breathing is the basis of life.  Diaphragmatic breathing, or deep breathing is breathing that is done by contracting the diaphragm, allowing the belly to expand and relax naturally during breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing occurs naturally in all mammals whenever they are in a state of relaxation, i.e. when there is no clear and present danger in their environment. If you think of a baby sleeping…their belly naturally rises and falls.  When we are fearful or stressed, breath is held in the chest, and is typically shallow to help prepare you for escaping danger in the environment.  By learning diaphragmatic breathing, you tell your body that there is no danger, allowing relaxation on a physiological and psychological level.  It is an essential tool in managing anxiety and stress in daily life.

Yorlan offers diaphragmatic breathing training within individual therapy by most of our providers.  In addition, a meditation group is under development, which incorporates diaphragmatic breathing, so keep an eye out for emails and/or posts related to new groups.

Meditation gives us a time in our lives when we can suspend judgment and approach our experiences with warmth and kindness—to ourselves and others. The practice of meditation involves learning to focus on the present through non-judgmental observation.  There is no wrong way to meditate, although there are goals to become more present over time.  By learning to focus and be kind to yourself, stress is reduced and enjoying the moment becomes possible.  Meditation starts with breathing and can then move on to using imagery and suggestions to improve well-being.  During meditation, you are completely in control and aware of what is going on.  It is a practice, so the more you practice, the easier it gets.

At Yorlan, basic meditation techniques are available as goals within individual therapy with most providers.  In addition, a meditation group is under development, so keep an eye out for emails and/or posts related to new groups.  In the meantime, if you are interested in an introduction to meditation and mindfulness, feel free to try the following 5-minute meditation provided by Mindful Magazine.

A 5-Minute Breathing Meditation To Cultivate Mindfulness
This practice is designed to reduce stress, anxiety, and negative emotions, cool yourself down when your temper flares, and sharpen your concentration skills.

Yoga has become very popular recently and for good reason.  It helps you become mindful, improves flexibility, strength, focus and balance.  It is in some ways, the all in one activity for the mind and body.  The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of it as the union occurring between mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is not a religion.  It is a philosophy that has endured 5,000 years. Many people think yoga is stretching, and while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility.  One of the most wonderful aspects of yoga is the emphasis on self-compassion, kindness and being non-judgmental.

At Yorlan, we encourage anyone who is physically able and has any level of interest to at least try yoga as a practice.  We are currently developing our own beginner yoga classes aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels.  If interested, please notify our front desk staff to help kick off our yoga programming.  When classes are available, notifications will be available through this website, social media and emails to current clients.