Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology
All kids deserve the chance to thrive. For children needing complex care or with a condition that affects the brain, it’s not always easy. Whether they’re nervous about treatment or are facing a learning difference, Atrium Health Levine Children’s is here to help. Depending on your child’s unique needs, their care team can include a pediatric psychologist, neuropsychologist, or sometimes both.
Though psychologists and neuropsychologists both use information about the brain, their approaches are different. A pediatric psychologist is focused more on behaviors and feelings, including helping your child find healthy ways to cope with a medical condition or treatment. On the other hand, a pediatric neuropsychologist helps children with medical conditions that may affect brain-related skills, like thinking and memory.
No matter your child’s unique needs, we’ll help them be their very best at home, at school and in every area of life.
Nationally recognized behavioral health care
Named a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, Levine Children’s Hospital ranks among the nation’s best for behavioral health care. Our psychologists and neuropsychologists provide specialized support for the emotional and mental well-being of children. We’re committed to helping kids feel their best – inside and out.
Learn more about all 10 of our top-ranked specialtiesSpecialties we work with
Our program is growing, and we treat more children than ever before. Currently, we provide support for children seeing specialists in:
Make an appointment
To learn more about pediatric psychology and neuropsychology, or to make an appointment, call 704-355-0101
Pediatric psychology and neuropsychology services
Pediatric psychology services
Our pediatric psychologists help children with severe and medically complex conditions cope with things like:
- Difficulty taking medication or refusing medication
- Emotional withdrawal
- Falling grades or other changes in school performance
- Grief and loss
- Mood or behavior changes
- Problems with siblings, friends or peers
- Stress from medical procedures
Pediatric neuropsychology services
Pediatric neuropsychologists are psychologists who focus on how the brain develops and how a brain injury or condition may affect children, teens and young adults over time.
Our pediatric neuropsychologists use thorough tests to evaluate your child’s thinking, learning, memory, attention and more. After the testing, they’ll provide a report that helps you, your child’s medical team and their school give your child the care and support they need. Learn more about what to expect during this evaluation.
Pediatric psychology and neuropsychology – what to expect from Levine Children's
Brain health and physical health go hand in hand. When your child is referred to pediatric psychology and neuropsychology, our goal is to provide your child with:
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Support at every step – We help your child throughout their journey, whether they’re worried about treatment or are having trouble in school.
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A collaborative care team – We work closely with your child's other doctors, keeping them updated on your child’s progress. Together, we can adjust treatment to help your child physically, cognitively and emotionally.
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Connection to other specialists – Sometimes children with severe illnesses or neurological conditions need extra support during and after treatment. We partner with your child’s pediatrician and other specialists to connect them to any additional care they may need.
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Decreased hospital admissions – By getting to the root of your child’s difficulties and providing the best path of care, we can improve their overall health and keep them out of the hospital for longer periods of time.
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Convenient, private appointments – To make sure your child gets the support they need in a convenient way, our visits are private and can be scheduled around the same time as their other doctors’ visits.
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Support for siblings – Your child’s medical condition affects every member of your family, which is why we extend our counseling services to siblings too.
What to expect from neuropsychology evaluations
Neuropsychology evaluations can help you understand how to best help your child, while also helping their doctors determine the most appropriate path of treatment. Here’s what you can expect during and after your child’s evaluation:
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What to expect – the day of the evaluation
During the evaluation, our team will use different tests and activities to assess your child’s thinking skills. Testing sessions typically last 4 to 6 hours and can be completed in one day. Your child will have a lunch break, as well as bathroom and snack breaks as needed.
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What to expect – after the evaluation
After the evaluation, your child’s neuropsychologist will review all results and information collected. Within 3 weeks, they’ll review the report with you and share their recommendations. Recommendations can include medications, therapies, interventions and, in rare cases, brain surgery. Additionally, these results can sometimes lead to a new diagnosis.
You’ll get a copy of the report, and so will your child’s referring care team. You can also share your child’s results with their school, if you’re interested in getting school-based support, such as through an IEP or 504 Plan.
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What to expect – future evaluations
Testing may be repeated to track progress over time and update recommendations. Our goal is to help your child get the care and treatment they need to reach their full potential at home, at school and throughout life.
Training program
We offer a post-doctoral training program in pediatric psychology at Atrium Health. The training program is primarily clinical, providing opportunities for program development, supervision, and clinical research. Fellows are exposed to diverse training opportunities by working with patients and their families impacted by medical illness. The training program follows a scientist-practitioner model of training that supports the professional growth and development of fellows as they prepare for licensure and future careers in pediatric psychology.
We also have openings for practicum placement for advanced graduate students in APA-accredited training programs. The practicum program provides students with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge base and gain experience in applying theory to practice in the medical setting.
Please email PediatricPsychology@AtriumHealth.org for additional information.
Our Providers
Our team of pediatric psychologists and pediatric neuropsychologists provide expert care for patients in Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. Get to know our team, and use the filters to narrow your search.