Services
Dementia Assessment
Dr Reason has over 25 years’ experience in dementia diagnosis and is passionate about supporting individuals and families affected by cognitive change. She is highly skilled in comprehensive assessment, diagnostic evaluation, formulation, and differential diagnosis.
Dr Reason has particular expertise in rare dementias, especially Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), and runs a free PPA support group in collaboration with Rare Dementia Support.
A neuropsychological assessment can be a helpful part of a wider diagnostic process. It may assist in determining whether a dementia is present and, if so, which subtype. It can also help distinguish between dementia, mild cognitive impairment, normal age-related changes, and other factors that may affect thinking and memory, such as menopause, mood, or physical health conditions.
Initial screening assessments are also available. These comprise a clinical interview and cognitive screening, along with signposting to appropriate NHS or private services. This option is particularly helpful for individuals who are uncertain or hesitant about beginning the process and would like to learn more.
Receiving a diagnosis can help people and their families make sense of symptoms, plan ahead, and develop appropriate interventions, strategies and support.
Neuropsychological Assessments
A neuropsychological assessment explores cognitive abilities across a range of areas, including attention and concentration, executive function, memory, language, processing speed, and visuoperceptual skills. The assessment helps to identify cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty, inform diagnosis, and guide treatment planning and interventions.
The assessment involves a combination of visual and verbal tasks and typically takes a few hours to complete. The pace of the assessment is tailored to each individual’s needs and may take place over one session or several sessions. Assessment may take place in an individual’s home or in a local therapy room, depending on circumstances.
Mental Capacity and Testamentary Assessments
Dr Reason conducts Mental Capacity Assessments (MCAs) in relation to matters such as consent to treatment and financial decision-making. She also carries out Testamentary Assessments, which assess an individual’s capacity to make or change a will.
Where appropriate, Dr Reason can complete the COP3 form.
Interventions
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Neuropsychological rehabilitation helps people manage cognitive abilities, such as memory, that affect everyday life. The aim is to make daily activities easier and improve independence. This may involve learning practical strategies to support abilities like memory and concentration, using techniques, tools or aids, or making small changes to the home or work environment. Rehabilitation can also include help with managing fatigue and low energy levels.
Psychological Interventions
Psychological therapy can help individuals, and their loved ones, adjust to cognitive difficulties or to a specific diagnosis. Support for carers is also available. A range of therapeutic approaches may be used, including Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or integrative approaches tailored to individual needs. The focus of therapy and the number of sessions are agreed collaboratively following an initial assessment.
Supervision & Mentoring
Dr Reason is an experienced supervisor who provides specialist neuropsychological supervision to trainees and qualified psychologists, with specific expertise in memory services and dementia. She is listed on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS). Dr Reason also offers mentoring for individuals completing the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology, as well as other related training programmes.
Dr Reason offers online supervision both individually or in groups.
Training/Teaching
Dr Reason has extensive teaching experience across a wide range of topics, delivering specialist training for professional courses as well as multidisciplinary mental health teams.
Training topics include:
– Cognitive screening tests
– An introduction to clinical neuropsychology
– Neuropsychological assessment
– Dementia assessment
– Neuropsychological profiles in dementia
– Primary progressive aphasia
– Rare dementias
– Delivering a diagnosis
Other topics may also be available by arrangement.
Geographical areas covered
Supervision/mentoring is available online and can be accessed nationwide.
Face-to-face sessions are offered across East Sussex, as well as parts of West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey.
Where appropriate, consultations and interventions can be offered online for convenience and accessibility.
Pricing
Please contact me for details about pricing. Terms and conditions apply.