Clinical SCIENCE

Clinical care shapes the questions I ask

My clinical training grounds my research in the lived experience of neurological illness. Across neuro-oncology, rehabilitation, neuropsychology, and mental-health settings, I learned to understand changes in mood, cognition, and behavior within their neurological, medical, and psychosocial context—and to use that understanding to guide individualized care.

CLINICAL SPOTLIGHT: EMBEDDED PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE BRAIN TUMOR CLINIC

As a postdoctoral clinical trainee at Siteman Cancer Center, I served as the psychology provider embedded within an interdisciplinary neuro-oncology team. I worked with patients and caregivers navigating changes in mood, cognition, behavior, identity, and family functioning related to brain tumors and their treatment.

CAREGIVER AND INTERDISCIPLINARY CONSULTATION

I recognized and assessed caregiver burden, supported families managing cognitive, behavioral, and role changes, facilitated communication and resource use, and translated psychological observations into clinically useful language for neuro-oncologists and nurses.

BRAIN-BEHAVIOR FORMULATION

I considered how tumor location, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, seizures, medications, fatigue, disease progression, and psychosocial stress might interact when formulating changes in mood, cognition, and behavior.

Measurement-Based care

I selected, scored, and interpreted structured measures of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, affect, and caregiver burden, alongside brief monitoring of attention, processing speed, and inhibitory control. I used repeated assessment to determine what needed attention—not simply to collect questionnaires.

therapy and behavior change

I tailored interventions to each patient’s neurological status, emotional needs, and medical context. My approach drew from:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other acceptance- and mindfulness-based strategies
• Behavioral activation and values-guided action
• Motivational interviewing for engagement and health behavior
• CBT-informed reframing, problem-solving, and coping-skills training
• Behavioral approaches to sleep, fatigue, pacing, and activity
• Self-compassion and emotion-regulation skills
• Meaning- and values-centered work addressing uncertainty, loss, changing roles, identity, and mortality

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