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David Hanson, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Hanson is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition he is a member of the APAs Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology section, the Exercise and Sports Psychology section, and the Men and Masculinity section reflecting additional areas of interest and experience. He is recognized by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He is a member of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA). He is a member of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the Sexual Abuse Intervention Network of Lake County (SAIN). He maintains allied hospital staff membership at Victory Memorial/ Provena St. Therese Medical Center in Waukegan, IL. He is a regular participant in continuing education programs to further develop his expertise in support of the individuals and families with whom he works. As a partner in Associates in Therapy and Assessment, he sees clients in the practice's Lake Bluff office and in Orland Park. In addition to Dr. Hanson's education and training in clinical psychology, he has expanded his ongoing interest in the mind-body relationship to include the practice of neurofeedback training as a potential means of addressing client challenges with ADHD and/or Anxiety as well as utilizing such training in the development of peak performance for athletes. He is a member of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research and has received his rigorous training through educational programs sanctioned by the Biofeedback and Certification Institute of America (BCIA), along with the mentoring and supervision of BCIA approved clinician, Dr. Kathy Abbott. AssessmentDr. Hanson employs his extensive training and special interest in psychological evaluation and assessment as a significant part of his practice of clinical psychology. He conducts psychological evaluations with referred children, between the ages of 6 and 12, adolescents, and adults. His assessments provide a thorough understanding of the factors influencing the difficulties that assessment clients are experiencing, a concise summary of the results of the assessment for potential use by other mental health professionals, and a well conceived set of recommendations to address identified needs. In addition to psychological evaluations, Dr. Hanson completes comprehensive ADHD (ADD) assessments with children, adolescents, and adults. In investigating the question of ADHD (ADD), as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Hanson is able to consider other conditions that might co-exist with ADHD or in some cases better explain the difficulties with which one presents. He is a member of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD) and the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), both organizations supporting families with members who face the challenges associated with ADHD (ADD). Dr. Hanson is able to incorporate into his assessments a breadth of knowledge from previous supervised training and delivery of assessment services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has completed neuropsychological evaluations as part of a specialized neuropsychological team, which included psychiatrists, social workers, and registered nurses at Hartgrove Hospital. He has extensive experience and has done numerous forensic risk assessments of problematic sexual behavior in children and adolescents as part of the team of professionals serving the inpatient unit for this behavioral difficulty at Hartgrove. He has conducted forensic adult sex offender evaluations as an adjunct clinician with a private agency specializing in such assessment. He has training and experience in performing psychoeducational assessment for children and adolescents and is a former educator. Finally, he has conducted research in the area of domestic violence and spousal abuse. TherapyChildrenA large measure of Dr. Hanson's therapy work involves working with child clients (6-12 years) and their families in individual and supportive family therapy. He is able to incorporate specialized training in play therapy and cognitive-behavioral intervention in his work with children. Dr. Hanson was previously a licensed educator in the state of Wisconsin and taught in the public schools for two years. As a clinical psychologist, he has served as psychological consultant with schools with children from K to grade 8. He is a father and husband and understands first hand the joys and challenges of parenting. Adult Men and WomenDr. Hanson sees adult men and women (18+) in therapy who present with difficulties that include adult ADHD (ADD), mood and anxiety difficulties, including Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorders; occupational conflict and stress, as well as divorce related adjustment. NeurofeedbackDr. Hanson offers neurofeedback training as a treatment alternative for some clients. Neurofeedback, also called electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback, is a treatment process in which the client is trained to develop greater cognitive flexibility and control by learning to use and control their own brainwaves. Neurofeedback training has been used for conditions such as ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, autistic spectrum disorders, and problems with addiction. Dr. Hanson's interest in using neurofeedback training with some clinical clients is primarily related to those clients experiencing difficulty with symptoms related to ADHD and with anxiety. In addition to his work with clinical cases, Dr. Hanson works with athletes in developing improved cognitive control and focus through neurofeedback training to improve sports performance. Neurofeedback Evaluation and Brain Mapping In support of those clients for whom neurofeedback training holds potential benefit, Dr. Hanson will complete a neurofeedback evaluation including brain mapping to better understand the client, to identify patterns of interest in formulating a training protocol, and to establish baseline functioning in order to measure progress in neurofeedback training.
Neurofeedback |
Dr. David Hanson earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the APA approved program of the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. He developed extensive therapy and assessment experience working with the complex inpatient population of child, adolescent, and adult patients at Hartgrove Hospital in Chicago during his internship and in his post-doctoral training. Before entering private practice as a partner in Associates in Therapy and Assessment, he provided outpatient therapy for HGI Behavioral Health Systems in Chicago as well as providing therapy, school consultation, and psychological assessment services as a member of the staff of a private clinical psychology practice serving the Palos, Oak Lawn, Orland, and Tinley Park area.