Psychotherapy that can include Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing Technique, David Grand's Brainspotting Technique, client-centered, cognitive behavioral approaches, DBT, mindfulness, consideration of your personal philosophy, and good old fashioned listening.

Consultation to families who could benefit from Heather Forbes' “Beyond Consequences,” among several parenting techniques, when facing the challenges of raising happy & healthy children, particularly when dealing with ADHD, Autism Spectrum, learning issues, bullying, defiance, and/or medical conditions.

Interventions to provide support to gifted but underachieving individuals facing challenges with ADD and alternative learning styles including training for organizational, processing and productivity issues. Therapy for resolution of underlying confidence/self-esteem issues that go hand-in-hand with individuals who process the world differently from the majority.   The way these individuals process is a gift, as they tend to "think outside the box" and develop unique solutions to problems.  However, they very often are marginalized or emotionally battered by schools or organizations that don't  understand how to nurture their valuable talents.

Psychological Testing including the empirically validated Exner comprehensive System for the Rorschach Inkblot Test and up-to-date personal inventories.  Dr. Gerard provides reports that are easy to understand and are intervention based, i.e. there are clear recommendations and interventions from which to choose based directly on the results.  Close consultation with the health care team to provide coordinated, cost effective treatment.

Academic Testing including the Mel Levine “A Mind at a Time” techniques to determine how best to learn or excel at school and work and reported in ways that are easy to understand and implement.  A Learning Plan can be developed that could go directly to educators.  Dr. Gerard is available to consult with school personnel for Individual Educational Plans, meetings with educators or Disability Departments, and can compile a Learning Strategies binder of several hundred pages tailored to individual needs for children, adolescents and adults. 

Reasonable Accommodation Evaluations to document learning challenges that qualify for expanded services at school, work, or on national testing.  Testing comprehensive enough to objectively show what areas require accommodation and detailed descriptions how to effectively (and reasonably) accommodate the individual reported in a format conforming to national requirements.

"Cinematherapy" technique designed by Dr. Gerard to teach accurate recognition of facial expression, gestures, body posture, tone of voice (nonverbal social cues); decode and respond appropriately to social interactions; anticipate social sequences; understand what it means when nonverbal social cues, and what is shared verbally, don't match; humor; sarcasm; dealing with the opposite sex; dating; knowing and responding appropriately to your "audience;"  becoming socially appropriate; reading others to your advantage, etc. using animation and live action movie tracking.  From an accepting stance of encouragement, Dr. Gerard re-teaches clients where to look to pick up on social cues; feel more comfortable in social interactions; resolve conflicts; avoid social missteps; self-advocate; and feel more confident in their social interactions in this fun, interactive modality. 

"Brain Unlocking" as developed by Jeffrey Schwarz, described by Norman Doidge in "The Brain that Changes Itself," with Brainspotting modifications by Pie Frey Psy.D. and further modified by Dr. Gerard for use in "stuck" thinking leading to anxious, repetitive, nonproductive "mice on the wheel" loops. This technique promotes mindfulness and re-direction to health promoting/enjoyable states to disengage the "Brain Lock."  This technique is particularly suited to reducing catastrophic thinking and sleeplessness.

Coaching for expanding life skills, promoting peak performance, developing organizational, pacing and productivity strategies.

Pre-surgical psychological evaluations required for bariatric, or other surgeries (as well as elective evaluations) and follow up to promote patient health/welfare/compliance/outcome and maximize effective interface with the health care team.

Support before, during, and after medical/dental procedures to reduce fear and promote healing.  Desensitization therapy for adjustment to medical devices like CPAP masks, etc.  

Pain Management training for procedure-related or chronic pain issues using a wide range of techniques including a biofeedback modality (Relaxing Rhythms).

Neuropsychological Evaluation among the most comprehensive in Boulder to sort out issues with thinking skills and performance.  Lots of one-on-one time to determine how to maximize performance and speed improvement with a practical treatment plan.  Dr. Gerard's experience facilitates the discrimination of neuropsychological dysfunction from psychological trauma or PTSD, or the cross-section of both, as treatment plans for each should differ in order to produce improvement.  Mis-identification of PTSD (or any other condition) as brain dysfunction, or brain dysfunction as PTSD could result in patients not getting timely intervention specific to their condition and/or deterioration of their condition over time.  

Emotional Support Animals, Service Dogs - A psychological consultation is required to provide documentation for these animals. Dr. Gerard can usually provide a consultation appointment within one week of contacting her. 

Student accommodations - getting accommodations for national tests requires a full neuropsych evaluation and a history of having had accommodations, unless you have an acquired condition like a brain injury.

Specialized confidential services facilitating resolution of issues that particularly affect fellow healthcare professionals in the workplace and at home.

Education to groups, in-services to professionals, and supervisionto expand professional expertise, promote health and welfare.

Independent evaluations, second opinions, jury selection, expert witness cross-examination, preparation for testimony to assist in forensic matters.

Two day “Cohesiveness Training” for families, businesses, organizations, etc. to promote effective communication, resolve intense issues, and promote collaborative problem solving.


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Michele@MicheleGerardPhD.com                                                                                    ©  Michele L. Gerard, PhD, PC & TopCat Media, 2021