Psychologist / Neuropsychologist
Why Mary Free Bed Kids?
As a CARF-Accredited Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, we provide expert, family-centered care designed to support the best possible recovery outcomes. Rehabilitation is essential after illness, injury, or surgery, and research consistently shows that beginning specialized care early can significantly improve a child’s progress.
Our accredited programs, seasoned clinical teams, and compassionate approach ensure that children and families receive the highest standard of support throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital holds a number of special accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF). This voluntary but rigorous accreditation process is based on specific and comprehensive standards ensuring the highest-quality rehabilitation.
CARF is an independent organization dedicated to providing reliable information to help patients and families make informed health care decisions. Consumers and medical professionals collaborate to develop the leading-edge standards by which providers are measured.
Pediatric Neuropsychologists and Psychologists
Helping your child feel their best, in body and mind, is an important part of pediatric rehabilitation. Neuropsychologists and psychologists are specialists who help children and families understand how the brain responds to injury, illness or medical conditions. Psychologists can help children learn coping skills, manage emotions, improve behavior, and build confidence so kids can continue to thrive at home and in their communities.
Whether your child is healing from a brain injury, adjusting after surgery, learning pain management or working through emotional stress, our pediatric neuropsychology and psychology specialists help kids process their emotions during rehabilitation in a safe, supportive environment.
What is a neuropsychologist?
A neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with advanced training focused on how the brain works and how changes in the brain can affect thinking, memory, attention, behavior, school performance and emotions. These specialists use structured assessments and observations to learn how your child’s brain functions and how best to support their recovery.
Neuropsychologists help answer questions like:
- Why is my child having trouble remembering or focusing?
- How has an injury or illness impacted my child’s thinking or behavior?
- What supports will help my child participate successfully in school and everyday activities?
They look closely at patterns of thinking and behavior so the team can tailor therapy and learning strategies to your child’s strengths and challenges.
What is a psychologist?
A psychologist focuses on your child’s emotional well-being, coping skills, behavior and adjustment to challenges—including the emotional impact of injury, medical treatments and changes in daily routines. Psychologists help children understand their feelings, handle stress and frustration and build resilience. They can also help children develop social skills and healthy ways of interacting with others.
Psychologists help kids and families with things like:
- Managing anxiety, sadness or frustration.
- Coping with pain or disability.
- Responding to medical procedures or hospital stays.
- Building confidence and resilience during rehabilitation.
- Improving social and emotional skills.
Together, neuropsychologists and psychologists provide complementary support for your child’s recovery, supporting their well-being through both practical skill building and understanding.
How These Specialists Help Children
Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment
One of the main ways neuropsychologists support children is through neuropsychological testing and evaluation. These assessments help the team understand:
- Your child’s thinking skills (like memory, attention or problem-solving).
- How your child learns and processes new information.
- Emotional or behavioral patterns that may affect daily life.
- How changes in the brain or medical conditions influence behavior.
During testing, your child might complete age-appropriate activities and tasks designed to measure different types of thinking skills and observe how they respond to challenges. Parents are often involved in providing background information and helping the team understand daily behaviors.
Once testing is complete, the neuropsychologist creates a detailed report and shares recommendations with you and the rest of the care team.
These recommendations may include:
- Therapy goals
- School plans
- Adaptive tools for learning
- Strategies to help your child succeed at home and in the classroom.
Emotional Support and Mental Health Care
Psychologists help children understand and manage their emotions, especially when they’re facing stress, frustration or changes related to illness or injury. They help children:
- Express feelings in healthy ways.
- Build coping skills for pain, disappointment or anxiety.
- Develop social and communication skills.
- Learn self-regulation techniques.
These services often include individualized therapy sessions to help kids process what they’re experiencing. Parents and caregivers are typically included in sessions.
At the Start of Care
When your child begins rehabilitation—whether inpatient or outpatient—your care team will assess whether neuropsychology or psychology services might help them progress. This may start with:
- A conversation with parents or caregivers.
- A review of your child’s medical history and school performance.
- Observation of your child’s behavior and emotional responses.
If needed, your child may be scheduled for a formal evaluation to learn more about cognitive strengths and challenges.
Treatment for Toe Walking
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your child’s toe walking. Our pediatric physiatrists (physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation) lead an interdisciplinary team to create an individualized plan for your child.
Depending on your child’s needs, treatment options may include:
- Physical therapy to stretch and strengthen muscles
- Alternative footwear for gait support
- Bracing with ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs)
- Nighttime stretching braces to improve flexibility
- Serial casting to gradually lengthen tight muscles
- Injectable medications (when clinically indicated)
Our therapists may also teach exercises to improve coordination, balance and sensory feedback, helping kids gain confidence in every stepDuring Rehabilitation
Once evaluations are complete, neuropsychologists and psychologists:
- Work closely with your child’s rehabilitation team.
- Attend care planning meetings.
- Provide ongoing support and counseling.
- Adjust recommendations as your child grows and changes.
- Coordinate with school and community supports when appropriate.
This collaborative approach to care supports your child’s emotional, cognitive and behavioral needs.
Family Involvement
Parents and caregivers are an important part of pediatric psychological care. Working alongside the specialists, you’ll learn:
- How to interpret evaluation results.
- Strategies you can use at home.
- Education about emotions, behavior and coping skills.
- How to prepare for returning to school and your community.
School Support
A child’s experience at school often reveals how well they are coping academically and socially. Neuropsychologists and psychologists help translate evaluation findings into school-friendly recommendations, which may include:
- Classroom accommodations.
- Help with organizational skills.
- Support to improve attention or memory.
- Strategies to manage frustration or anxiety at school.
They may work with teachers, school psychologists and special education teams to ensure your child has what they need to learn confidently and safely.
How Specialists Fit into Your Child’s Rehab Team
Neuropsychologists and psychologists are part of a larger interdisciplinary care team that works together on your child’s rehabilitation. This team may include:
- Physicians and pediatric specialists
- Rehabilitation therapists (physical, occupational, speech)
- Nurses and care managers
By collaborating closely, the team ensures that your child’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs are addressed comprehensively.
Why Families Choose Mary Free Bed Kids
Families choose Mary Free Bed Kids because:
- Our therapists are specially trained in pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation.
- We provide measurable clinical outcomes.
- Our approach to care is family-centered.
- We utilize a developmentally aligned, play-based approach.
Healing Together
At Mary Free Bed Kids, we heal with our hands and treat with our hearts. Pediatric neuropsychologists and psychologists help families understand how to support your child during rehabilitation and beyond..
Ready to Get Started With Mary Free Bed?
Wherever your child is on their rehabilitation journey, we’re here to help every step of the way. Our pediatric specialists are ready to listen, support and guide your family through recovery. Whether your child is just beginning treatment or continuing progress from earlier care, our team is committed to encouraging their growth, celebrating milestones and supporting every goal—big and small.
Our Locations
Great Lakes Bay Region
Northern Michigan
Southwest Michigan
West Michigan
Mid-Michigan
Southeast Michigan
Indiana
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