Neuropsychology Service

The team is made up of the following members of staff. To find out more about the team, you can read the bios at: Neuropsychology team bio [pdf]

• Dr Charlotte Baker, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist
• Dr Leanne Rogan, Senior Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Holly Castle, Principal Clinical Psychologist
• Alice Brooke, Senior Medical Secretary

Our Clinical Neuropsychology team helps people understand how neurological conditions affect thinking, emotions, and behaviour. We work with adults who have acquired or adult-onset neurological conditions, such as stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.

Our service works with people to support them with both emotional and cognitive difficulties.  The aim of our service is to improve the quality of life for patients with neurological conditions.

We complete assessments to understand your difficulties, to try to help you know more about what’s going on for you. We also work with people who have difficulties with their mood, behaviour and personal changes from an acquired neurological condition.

We also have Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Pathway which is a focused service for patients with a confirmed FND diagnosis (see below).

 

What will happen at my first appointment?

At your first appointment, we will ask some questions about the kind of problems you are having and what other people have noticed. We might ask you to fill in some questionnaires. Your appointment is likely to last one hour and the purpose is to help us find the best way to support you.

Together, we’ll agree on a plan for any further appointments and what these might involve. If we think neuropsychology can help, you’ll be added to our waiting list for further appointments

You can also use this appointment to ask any questions.

 

How many appointments will I have and what will they involve?

Your first appointment is an opportunity for us to get to know you and discuss a plan for any further support. After this, you may be invited for a detailed neuropsychological assessment or short-term psychological therapy, focusing on changes in thinking, mood, or personality following an acquired neurological condition. Please note that our psychological therapy is time-limited.

You may be referred if:

• You have thinking or memory difficulties linked to a neurological condition (e.g., after stroke, brain injury, MS, Parkinson’s, epilepsy).
• You have complex symptoms involving your thinking, emotions, and physical health.
• You are finding it hard to adjust to your neurological condition and need specialist support.

We offer a service to those who are under the care of Mid Yorkshire Neurosciences service (Neurologist, Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine, Specialist Neurology Nurses, Specialist Neurology Therapies).  Any of these healthcare professionals can refer you to our service.  We do not accept self-referrals or referrals from GPs.

What does the Neuropsychology FND Pathway offer?

This service is for patients with a confirmed FND diagnosis only.

Understanding and managing FND symptoms is an important part of your care. Our service can help you learn more about:

• What FND is and how symptoms develop
• Factors that may influence symptoms, including physical, neurological, and psychological aspects
• Skills and tools for self-management

This is considered an important part of recommended treatment for FND and may support onward referrals.

The pathway provides up to four sessions, which include:

• A comprehensive assessment to understand your symptoms and experiences
• Support in understanding factors that may contribute to FND, with a focus on what may be most relevant for you
• Practical strategies and tools to help you make sense of your symptoms and manage them effectively.

There is no single cause of FND. Risk factors can include things that happened before symptoms started, events at the time symptoms began (such as illness or injury), and factors that maintain symptoms afterward. For some people, psychological factors like trauma, anxiety, or depression may play a role, but for many people this is not the case.

Please note: we do not provide ongoing psychological therapy as part of this pathway. 

 

How to access the Neuropsychology Service and FND neuropsychology pathway

You must be under the care of a Mid Yorkshire Neurosciences professional (Neurologist, Rehabilitation Medicine Consultant, Specialist Nurses, or Therapies).

We do not accept self-referrals or GP referrals.