Dr. Karina Gitman brings a unique background to CNS as a graduate of a doctoral program in Counseling and School Psychology. She received extensive training in working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities (autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities) and behavioral and psychiatric problems (ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders). She also worked in and consulted with schools regarding educational planning and placement, participated in behavioral modification programs, and developed individualized behavioral and education plans.

Dr. Gitman completed her doctoral studies at the State University at Buffalo, New York. Her research focus was on autism spectrum disorders and pediatric health psychology. She received post-doctoral training in neuropsychology at Jacobs Neurological Institute, serving primarily adolescent and adult populations. There, she gained experience in the neuropsychological evaluation of adolescents and adults with a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, demyelinating disorders, dementias, seizure disorders, brain tumors, substance abuse, learning disorders, schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. She also conducted capacity assessments, pre-neurosurgical baseline evaluations (e.g. for deep brain stimulation), and forensic examinations to determine claim validity. In addition, she worked with professional athletic teams in sport-related TBI evaluations. She also was involved in investigative research with local and national multiple sclerosis databases.

As a therapist, Dr. Gitman has worked with children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s disorder, mental retardation, conduct disorder, borderline personality disorder, self-mutilating behavior, depression, and anxiety. She also developed and implemented behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment plans and counseled families and children. Finally, she has provided psychotherapeutic services to adults with depression and anxiety disorders as well as stress- and relationship-related issues.

Dr. Gitman is licensed in Connecticut and New York. She joined Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services in 2011.

On a Personal Note…
When I was a college student, I never struggled with choosing a professional track. I immediately declared psychology as my major and have not veered off that path since. My passion is in brain-behavior relationships and the networks and connections within ourselves and between ourselves and the world. I journeyed in my personal and professional life, honing in on particular education and training I needed to understand that relationship. It is fascinating and humbling to see how factors from culture at large, our family and our immediate environment, our biological/genetic make-up, and our life events intertwine and make us who we are today. As a lifespan clinical neuropsychologist providing services to individuals of all ages, I have seen this connection play out time and time again.

I transfer this appreciation and knowledge into work with my patients and I am committed to looking at a person as a whole regardless of any particular characteristic. I am known for my compassionate yet direct approach, and I am an avid advocate for patients whether in their personal lives, their educational settings, or their job environments. I take great care at walking each patient or parent/guardian through the examination process, ensuring that all questions are answered and there is a high level of comfort to proceed with the evaluation.

My interests and skills are varied and I often serve patients with neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism, or learning disorders, to name a few. Acquired conditions are also of interest to me, including multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, brain injury, and neurodegenerative conditions, among others. Undeniably, mental health issues are intertwined with neurological conditions and can be stand-alone, at the core of a patient’s examination profile, or a consequence of other underlying conditions. The latter may include an anxiety disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder.

My patients and I share a wonderful condition called ‘being human’. In addition to my education and training, I bring a great deal of unique experience to my relationships with my patients – as an immigrant, a mother of three children, and a family care-taker.

 

 

Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services, P.C.
1095 South Main St.
Cheshire, CT 06410

Telephone: 203-271-3809
Fax: 203-272-6968
Email: cns@clinicalneuropsych.com