Dr. Laurie Lee Cestnick
Psychologist
1612 Main Street Hamilton Ontario, L8S 1G1About
Dr. Laurie Cestnick offers neuropsychological, psychological, and educational assessment and treatment across CT and MA (as well as in Canada). She has almost 20 years experience assessing developmental and acquired conditions (ages 3 years to adult). She completed her Ph.D. in psychology at Macquarie University (Australia), is trained in both research (Radiology at MGH, Harvard University and MIT) and clinical neuropsychology (Macquarie, Australia; Weaver Center, and Hallowell Center, USA; Chedoke McMaster Hopsital, Canada), and has taught and trained students and clinicians (Harvard and Tufts Universities). Her research examined learning and neurodevelopmental phenomenon such as dyslexia, Autism, and ADHD, via behavioral and neuroimaging studies (fMRI/MEG), and she has extensive clinical experience working with these and additional populations such as those with various forms of brain injury. She has been instrumental in evolving dyslexia & reading models used today (see Wikipedia) and developed theories of visual attention and its representation in the brain that received recognition (Harvard Jr. Fellowship Nomination). These experiences allow her to develop comprehensive and advanced assessments and treatment, especially for those with learning disorders. In recent years she has also worked with patients with long COVID and created clinical teams to service these patients. She genuinely cares and is driven to give the best possible service to each patient. Disarming, approachable, hardworking, and makes what could be a daunting experience actually fun, enjoyable, and informative.
Education and Training
Macquarie University PhD Psychology 2001
MGH, Harvard University Radiology Certificate - 3 yrs 2004
Brock University Master's Educational Psych 1997
Provider Details
Dr. Laurie Lee Cestnick's Expert Contributions
Traumatic Brain Injury / Concussion -- there is help
Traumatic Brain Injuries / Concussions – do not suffer alone.Traumatic brain injuries are far too common in the United States with over 4 million people estimated to acquire one per year (likely far more due to under-reporting). Understanding the course of events after a TBI can help reduce...
Can anxiety in a child be fixed?
Yes of course. This is a bit of a loaded question, however, not understanding the nature of the anxiety, e.g. trauma related, neurodevelopmental concerns such as sensory issues, Autism, speech problems, social concerns, etc. or other. You will want her to see a neuropsychologist/ psychologist to discuss how long the anxiety has been present and to help determine the nature of the anxiety. There is a lot of help available once the nature of the anxiety is better understood. Rule the above listed things out (there are many potential contributors even PANDAS and other things that a neuropsychologist can rule in/out). READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- School Psychologist (elementary and middle school) Neighborhood House Charter School, Dorchester, MA, USA 2023 - 2024
- Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist (adults/pediatric; car accidents; PTSD, brain injuries, concussions, etc.) Kaplan and Levitt, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - Present
- Neuropsych/psych/ed assessments and treatment (largely pediatric; ADHD, dyslexia, learning disorders, Autism, affect, and mood disorders) Weaver Center, Wayland, Massachusetts, USA -
- Neuropsych/psych/ed assessments and treatment (pediatric/adult; ADHD, dyslexia, LDs, Autism, mood, and personality disorders) Hallowell Center, Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA -
- Neuroscientist, Psychologist (FT 4 years, PT 6 years), using fMRI/MEG. Harvard University, MGH (Radiology) and McLean’s Hospital (Psychology) -
Awards
- Hall of Fame Award - for contributions to neuropsychology 2015 Thomas A. Blakelock H.S., Oakville, Ontario
- Harvard Junior Fellow Nomination (for promise as young scientist) 2004 Harvard University
- Henry Jackman Award - for contributions and promise in Education 1997 Henry Jackman, Lieutenant Gov of Ontario
- OPRS - for promise as a young scientist 1997 Australian Government
- CIHR Fellowship - for scientific promise 2001 Canadian Institute of Health Research
Fellowships
- M.I.T., MEG Lab Neuroscientist (disorders, dyslexia, visual and speech perception)
Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors
- Advocacy for: Children/adults with needs, all animals as sentient beings / against animal testing in research, kind treatment of animals across the globe, and environmental causes
Treatments
- Widely varies dependent upon cohort
Professional Society Memberships
- Ontario Pysch Assoc APA EPA
Articles and Publications
- yes many
What do you attribute your success to?
- Love of helping people
Teaching and speaking
- "Yes" (too many to list)
Areas of research
* How the brain processes images, words, space and time.
* Neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and brain models of reading and dyslexia (how these work and fail during development or aquired insults)
* Many faces of attention deficits
* Neglect, neglect dyslexia, cognitive and brain correlates
Recent interests: pediatric demyelinating diseases and mimics; infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, inflammation and the brain; neck injuries as they relate to sensory and brain changes and implications for treatment.
Dr. Laurie Lee Cestnick's Practice location
Floating (offices around the state), Connecticut 06880Get Direction
Dr. Laurie Lee Cestnick's reviews
Write ReviewRecommended Articles
- What Are the Types of Bipolar Disorder?
What is bipolar disorder?Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings. The mood swings can be extremely high or low. They can last a few hours, days, weeks or even months. The mood swings consist of mixed emotions both of extreme happiness or extreme depression.Bipolar...
- Reasons Why You Need Psychotherapy
What Is Psychotherapy?Psychotherapy is an arrangement of treatments that are used in solving life issues such as mental disorders, psychiatric disorders, and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy assists you in understanding your feelings, to sustain positivity, dealing with depression, and coping...
- How to Naturally Increase Libido
If there is one thing that binds couples aside from love, that would be libido. Most of us do not give attention to it until it becomes very low and causes relationship problems. You might have low libido issues if you have the following symptoms:...
- Boy with Autism Finds Companionship in Apple's Siri
It can be a difficult world to make friends in, especially for children with autism. However, a young boy named Gus was able to find companionship in an unlikely place - Apple's virtual assistance platform, Siri.Discovering SiriGus's mother began to notice that Siri was becoming her son's best...
- Katy Perry Fan Wishes Bullies Would Stop Picking on Sister with Autism
There exist several forms of bullying – physical, emotional, verbal, educational, and property destruction. Nowadays, cyberbullying is also on the rise.While social media networks are a great way to connect and interact with others, they can also be used in harmful ways to humiliate others....
- Tips to Overcome Procrastination for Each Type of Procrastinator
Ever wondered how to overcome procrastination? Well, you have landed on the right page. This article focuses on how to beat procrastination. Each of us procrastinates for different reasons, and we all do it sometimes at least at one stage of our lives. There are six styles of procrastinators...