Neuropsychologist in Geelong
Dr Brendan McLaren, clinical neuropsychologist at BMC Neuropsychology, provides comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for diagnostic, capacity, and medico-legal purposes in Geelong. Referrals are accepted from across regional Victoria, including Ballarat, Bendigo, the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula, and surrounding areas
About Neuropsychological assessments
Neuropsychological assessment involves the evaluation of thinking skills such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and reasoning. These assessments can assist with understanding cognitive difficulties and guiding diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
When is a Neuropsychological Assessment Helpful?
Neuropsychological assessments may assist with diagnosis, treatment planning, and understanding how cognitive difficulties following brain injury, neurological illness, or other conditions affect behaviour, thinking, and memory.
Services provided
A medico-legal assessment is typically requested by lawyers or judges for use in court. The assessment may be conducted to determine if a person has a cognitive disorder and how any disorder, if present, may relate to offending behaviour. A medico-legal assessment may also be requested to determine an individual’s fitness to plead, appoint or instruct legal counsel, or stand trial as a witness.
Medico-legal Assessment
Capacity Assessment
Capacity assessments are conducted to determine if a person with cognitive impairment has the capacity to make informed decisions about their financial, medical, or lifestyle matters. Reports are often requested to support guardianship and financial administration applications made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessments are commonly conducted to determine if an individual has an acquired brain injury and/or to clarify the severity of any associated cognitive impairment. The assessments discover each person’s profile of strengths and weaknesses and the knowledge is used to guide treatment, rehabilitation, and support management strategies. These assessments are often used to assist with NDIS applications or applications for the Disability Support Pension.
About Dr. Brendan McLaren
Hi, my name is Brendan. I graduated with a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology from Monash University in 2020. I have experience working with and assessing adults 16 years old and above with a variety of presentations including mild to extremely severe traumatic brain injury, polysubstance abuse, psychiatric illness, and neurodegenerative disorders.
I often work with clients who have a complex mixture of the above conditions and have worked and completed assessments with clients in the clinic, community, and various Victorian prisons. I have an interest in seeing clients who have a psychiatric illness alongside a brain injury
In addition to my private practice, I am employed as a Clinical Neuropsychologist with Diverge Consulting where I provide neuropsychology assessment, counselling, management, and behavioural interventions for complex clients with acquired brain injuries from a variety of causes.