The Dallas Neuropsychological Institute
Begun in 1982 as a consulting service, the Dallas Neuropsychological Institute is the oldest neuropsychological practice in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The Institute maintains an active diagnostic and treatment practice in the Dallas area. The Institute also provides neuropsychological laboratory services to a number of hospital and rehabilitation programs throughout the Dallas area, as staff have been or are are affiliated with at least eight separate hospital or rehabilitation programs in the Metroplex area alone. Neuropsychological laboratory services which are directly supervised by a Board Certified Neuropsychologist are also provided in English, Spanish, and German, as the neuropsychological laboratory was established with multi-lingual capability in mind.
Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is the specialty of Psychology which addresses emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties encountered in the presence of central nervous system disturbance or illness. Clinical Neuropsychologists have acquired a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology along with a minimum of additional advanced residency training in Clinical Neuropsychology in a neurological or neurosurgical center. Recent recognition of cerdentialing requirements by the American Psychological Association have made credentialing in ClinicalNeuropsychology mcuh more difficult than in the past, and Dr. Hopewell, as the second Texan to be Board Certified, is the senior of only three neuropsychologists in the North Texas area.
We Were The First; We Are The Future
Begun in 1982 as a consulting service, the Dallas Neuropsychological Institute, P.C. is the oldest such practice in the Metroplex. Dr. Hopewell, Institute Director, was the first Neuropsychologist to be Board Certified in Dallas in 1984, established the first neuropsychological laboratory in a Metroplex rehabilitation facility, is a co-founder of the Dallas Head Injury Association, started the first head injury support group in Dallas, and was the first Dallas neuropsychologist to be named Neuropsychologist of the year in Texas. In addition to being the first, we feel that the furture lies in adequate health care which meets the needs of the whole person.
We Believe in the Quality of Life
As advances in medical care have improved the ability of injured or ill individuals to survive a medical crisis, not just life but the quality of life of those survivors becomes the main concern for both the individual as well as the family. The Dallas Neuropsychological Institute is primarily dedicated to helping all of our survivors reach the very best quality of life which is possible.
Problems addressed by Clinical Neuropsychology include those resulting from:
- Injuries such as head trauma, electrocution, or anoxia (loss of oxygen, as happens as a result of drowning or heart attack).
- Developmental disorders, such as learning disabilities and seizure disorders (epilepsy).
- Metabolic and neurological disorders and illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus, etc.
- Cerebral Vascular Disorders (stroke) and heart attack.
- Toxic exposure, including alcohol, drug abuse, and problems resulting from carbon monoxide and industrial solvent exposure, etc.
Rehabilitation, Consultation, and Life Care Planning
The Dallas Neuropsychological Institute draws upon the expertise of a large number of rehabilitation experts to provide both national and international coordination within the United States as well as abroad of rehabilitation services to severely disabled individuals. Services offered by the Dallas Neuropsychological Institute include:
- Public and Professional Education
- Clinical Assessment
- Clinical Consultation
- Consultation with State/Federal Agencies
- Catastrophic Case Management
- Life Care and Rehabilitation Planning
- Clinical Education and Training
- Rehabilitation and Neuropsychological Research
Director
C. Alan Hopewell, Ph.D., ABPP is a native of Dallas, Texas, whose family originally moved to the city in 1914. In addition, the family was involved in education and teaching in Dallas as early as 1946, and was involved in basic neuropsychological research as early as 1948, long before this scientific area had received the widespread recognition it has today.
Dr. Hopewell holds three degrees in Psychology - his Bachelor's from Texas A & M University and his Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from North Texas State University. He received Clinical Neuropsychological training in 1975-1976 during his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in the Division of Neurosurgery under Harvey Levin, Ph.D., ABPP. After completion of his residency training, he directed the Neuropsychological Laboratory for the 7th U. S. Army throughout the European Theater and subsequently the Fifth U. S. Army at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He remains a Major in the United States Army Individual Ready Reserve. Dr. Hopewell is also credited with the foundation of rehabilitation neuropsychological programming in the Dallas area as he initiated neuropsychological services at both of the major rehabilitation hospitals in Dallas, the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation and the Dallas Rehabilitation Institute.
Dr. Hopewell was the second Texan to be Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and he additionally serves on the Medical Advisory Board for the Texas Head Injury Association. He is a member of numerous other neuropsychological and professional organizations, was elected a Division Director for the Texas Psychological Association for 1990-1991, and has authored a number of professional published manuscripts in neuropsychology. Dr. Hopewell has been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Research Panel of Neuropsychological Division (40) of the American Psychological Association for his contributions to the knowledge of motor vehicle operations after head injury.