Neurodynamics

Mary K. Hales, Ph.D., is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and the director of NeuroDynamics, LLC, located near downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.  Neuropsychology is a specialized area of psychology that focuses on brain development and functioning and how it affects behavior, emotional and social functioning, learning, and other cognitive abilities.  Neuropsychology is unique in that it looks at both the neurological and psychological contributors to everyday functioning.

Dr. Hales completed a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1998, followed by a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology.  Her work has focused primarily on evaluation and treatment since 1983 – the first five years as a school psychologist, and the last 12 years as a clinical neuropsychologist.  She has extensive experience in evaluating children, adolescents, and adults who present with a variety of challenges, including traumatic brain injury, neurological disorders, dyslexia and nonverbal learning disorders, language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, Aspergers’ Syndrome, ADHD, and mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.  Assessment of bright students who otherwise have learning challenges, motivational challenges, or problems such as test phobia are often sought out by parents, as well as assessment of students with ADHD or learning disabilities who are college-bound and need appropriate accommodations to complete SAT/ACT testing or complete college class work.

Dr. Hales frequently completes evaluations for individuals who have received previous diagnoses, but questions still remain regarding all of the contributing sources of their problems.  Children, adolescents, and adults who were exposed to alcohol and/or drugs in utero often exhibit a complex group of challenges, and Dr. hales is one of the few neuropsychologists in the state of Utah who has extensive experience evaluating individuals with confirmed or suspected prenatal exposure.

Dr. Hales’ expertise in neuropsychology has also led to work as an evaluator and expert witness in forensic cases, primarily regarding traumatic brain injury.  However, she has also evaluated and testified in cases regarding rare disorders such as Munchausen’s Disorder and Munchausen’s Disorder by proxy.

Dr. Hales’ areas of expertise also include eating disorders of all types.  She understands not only the neurobiology behind such disorders, but the psychological aspects as well.  She was the chief psychologist and program development specialist at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, working with a multi-disciplinary team specifically focused on evaluation and coordination of services for children and adolescents with emerging or established eating disorders.  She was also the director of psychological evaluation services at New Life Center, a residential/day treatment facility located in Salt Lake City that focused on evaluation and treatment of adolescent and adult women with eating disorders.

Dr. Hales has presented at numerous conferences and seminars on topics including traumatic brain injury, nonverbal learning disorders, dyslexia, auditory processing disorders, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and eating disorders.  Inquiries about presenting on these or other topics related to Neuropsychology are welcomed, and she can be contacted by calling the NeuroDynamics office or by email at mary.hales@neurodynamics.biz .