Staff Information

Susan Van Ost, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Specialty in Educational, Neuropsychological and Personality Assessment

Maryland License #1111

To contact Dr. Van Ost, please call: 301-562-8448.

I have lived and worked in Montgomery County, Maryland for the past 20 years, and specialize in providing detailed, comprehensive, and solution-focused evaluations of children, adolescents and adults.

Services

I make every effort to provide assessment reports that:

• Address your specific concerns (parents, teachers, clients and significant others)
• Are jargon-free and easily understood
• Focus on strengths as well as areas of weakness
• Provide a comprehensive, realistic plan for both immediate and long-term interventions
• Serve as the basis of productive problem-solving with schools, employers or other concerned individuals

(I am available to attend school meetings, as necessary.)

Adult evaluations are designed to answer the questions and concerns expressed by my adult clients about their own functioning. Adults whom I assess are often concerned about issues regarding:

• career choice
• work completion
• memory
• motivation
• interpersonal function
• ADHD – late diagnosis or reassessment
• learning disabilities

In my assessments of adults, I address issues of workplace functioning and make solution-focused recommendations, suggest career directions based on strengths as well as areas of weakness, and provide specific recommendations to help adults improve issues related to daily functioning and interpersonal relationships.

Adolescent evaluations typically address parent and teacher concerns about issues such as:

• underachievement
• ADHD
• learning disabilities
• possible accommodations for the SAT and ACT
• necessary class-room based accommodations
• effects of substance abuse on cognitive function
• readiness for college
• career choice
• interpersonal relationships
• development of social skills
• personality style

In my assessments of adolescents, I give special attention to post-high school planning, including gap years and transition away from home for students having learning disabilities, ADHD, executive functioning issues, low motivation, or social skills deficits.

Child evaluations frequently address parental concerns related to attention, learnng and social skills problems. My reports typically address:

• ADHD and its overlap with emotional issues
• effect of ADHD on other areas of cognitive function
• identification of learning disability
• diagnosis of high functioning autism or Asperger’s Disorder

In child assessments, I give special attention to possible future academic or emotional problems, along with ways of preventing or minimizing them.

Fees

My assessments tend to be more extensive than other assessments provided at the Chesapeake ADHD Center. As a result, I have a different fee schedule

Assessment Procedures

Scheduling - To schedule an assessment for yourself or your child call the Chesapeake ADHD Center at 301-562-8448.

Intake - At the time that your assessment is scheduled, you will also be scheduled for a 1 hour telephone intake session with me.

Preparation for your assessment - A packet of questionnaires will be mailed to you at the time of scheduling. It is very important that you fully complete all questionnaires and bring them, as well as any other relevant records that you may have, to your first testing session.

Testing is scheduled over a series of four sessions for children 8 and under, or three longer sessions for older children and adults.

Feedback following testing - I make every effort to prepare your report within two weeks after testing has been completed and will meet with you in an extended feedback session to discuss test results and all of my recommendations.

Post testing follow-up – I am available for consultations following assessment, as needed, and encourage my clients to keep in touch with me and keep me apprised of their progress following assessment.

Referrals – As appropriate, I will refer you to other Chesapeake ADHD Center staff or professionals outside of the center who will assist you in carrying out the recommendations made in my report.

Educational Background

• B.A., 1968, New York University
• M.A., 1971, The American University, Washington, D.C.
• Ph.D.,1975, The American University, Washington, D.C.
• Clinical Internship: Perry Point V.A. Hospital and Arlington (1974-75) Community Mental Health Center, Dept. of Child Services, Arlington, VA.
• University Fellowship, The American University, 1969-70,1970-71.

Post Doctoral Training

• 2000-2002: Completion of the Certificate in Neuropsychology from the Fielding Institute under  the direction of Dr. Allan Mirsky, Neuropsychology Chief at NIH. Two-year training.
• Completion of a post-doctoral certificate in intensive post-doctoral study in strategic family therapy, 1990-92, at the Family Therapy Institute under the supervision of Jay Haley, Chole Mandanes, and David Eddy.

Work Experience

• Director, Assessments and Solutions (2004-2008): Directed the diagnostic unit of the Jewish Social Services Agency, specializing in the provision of comprehensive educational, neuropsychological and personality assessment.
• Consultant, Fielding Institute (February 2004 and 2005): Weekend-long presentation and case supervision on topics in pediatric neuropsychology. Participants are M.A. and Ph.D. students in neuropsychology.
• Private Practice (1989-2004): Private practice with emphasis on psychological and neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, and adults having learning problems, Tourette's Disorder, closed head injury, and a broad range of psychotic and nonpsychotic emotional disturbance.
• Research Collaborator (2000-2001): Consultation at NIH in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Evaluated currently used battery of neuropsychological techniques and made suggestions. Trained staff on the administration of various neuropsychological instruments.
• Research Collaborator (1992-94): Participant in data collection (using the Rorschach) on NIH project to assess emotional status of obese clients before, during, and after weight loss.
  o Staff Psychologist: Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, Towson, MD.; June, 1987 to January, 1989. Provided psychological and neuropsychological assessment services to inpatient and outpatients; provided family therapy.
• Staff Psychologist. Division of Child and Adolescent Svces.,St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Supervisor: Michael W. Mills, Ph.D.; July, 1982-July, 1984. Administrative director of a 16-bed inpatient admissions and treatment unit for children ages 6-14.
• Staff Psychologist. Area D Community Mental Health Center,St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Supervisor: Alan Orenstein, Ph.D.; Feb., 1978, to June, 1982. Coordinator of Research and Evaluation.
• Staff Psychologist. Area D Community Mental Health Center, St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Outpatient Staff Psychologist.

• Van Ost, Susan L., “Neuropsychology of Learning Disabilities” presented to clinical staff at the Jewish Social Services Agency, Sept., 1997-present as part of an ongoing neuropsychological consultation. A once-yearly, three-hour didactic presentation.
• Van Ost, Susan L. Ongoing monthly consultation at the Jewish Social Services Agency, 1997 to 2007. Topics have included intervention techniques with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations; case consultations; neuropsychological assessment of learning disability, attention deficit, head trauma.
• Van Ost, Susan L., “Theory and Assessment of Execution Function” presented to the professional staff at the Regional Institute of Children and Adolescents. April, 1999 and April, 2000.
• Van Ost, Susan L., “Theory and Assessment of Executive Function” presented to the professional staff at the Oakmont School, Rockville, MD, May, 1999.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Neuropsychological Issues in Personality Assessment", Presentation to Community Psychiatric Clinic Staff, November, 1994.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Assessment of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder", Sheppard Pratt Education Center, June, 1989.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Neuropsychological Assessment of Learning Disabilities", Sheppard Pratt Hospital Psychologists, November, 1988.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Issues in Psychological Assessment", Presentation to Attorneys for the D.C. Superior Court Child and Abuse and Neglect Branch, September, 1988, Washington, D.C.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Screening for Neuropsychological Impairment in Children and Adolescents", Presentation to staff of Associated Human Services, June, 1988, Silver Spring, MD.
• Van Ost, Susan L., "Closed Head Trauma in Children and Adolescents", Presentation to the Baltimore School Psychologists Association, May, 1988, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Van Ost, S., and Culbertson, S., "Teaching Behavior Principles: Evaluation of the student's analytical skills." Paper presented at the 1973 annual meeting of The American Psychological Association, Montreal, Canada.

Licensure

District of Columbia and Maryland.

Affiliations

Fellow, Maryland Psychological Association

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I am available to provide professional training seminars and presentations to the general public on topics related to ADHD, learning disabilities, If your organization is interested in a presentation or training seminar, please contact me at 301-562-8448 or at susanvanost@chesapeakeadd.com.

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