Dr. Clarissa Bush

Dr. Clarissa Bush, C.Psych.

Dr. Bush has spent her career working with people who are coping with changes in thinking and behaviour brought on by conditions which affect brain functioning. She is committed to creating a caring and respectful environment for clients, with practical solutions to help them understand their unique situation and work towards achieving maximum potential.

Dr. Bush provides services in Clinical Neuropsychology and Capacity Assessment.

Neuropsychological Assessment

  • diagnostic assessment of memory problems, other cognitive difficulties and disorders affecting children and adolescents
  • assessment of other neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, etc.
  • assessment of cognitive strengths and weaknesses in children and adolescents with developmental, genetic and neurological conditions

Intervention

  • assisting people with Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions affecting thinking and behaviour to cope with the changes brought about by theses conditions and to reach their maximum potential
  • working with couples and families of people affected by neurological conditions
  • consulting to community organizations, such as nursing homes, around behavioural issues

Capacity Assessment

  • formal Capacity Assessments required under the Subsitute Decisions Act
  • opinions regarding capacity to give and revoke Power of Attorney
  • opinions regarding testamentary capacity, capacity to instruct counsel, etc.

Public Speaking

Dr. Bush has considerable experience speaking to community groups on topics related to capacity assessment and cognitive functioning.There is usually no charge for these presentions.

Professional Biography

Dr. Bush graduated from McGill in 1984 with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Moving to Ottawa in 1985, she worked at St. Vincent Hospital until 1988 and at Elisabeth Bruyère Health Centre from 1988 to 2006. Her experience during this period included assessment and treatment for people suffering from stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological and physical illnesses. Dr. Bush also spent 14 years with the Memory Disorder Clinic and has consulted extensively to nursing homes. During her period at Elisabeth Bruyère she was Training Director for the CPA accredited internship in clinical neuropsychology and taught psychology students as well as supervising psychologists working towards registration.

Dr. Bush holds a diplomate from the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology. She was part of the team which developed procedures for capacity assessment and has provided capacity assessment services since proclamation of the Subsitute Decisions Act in 1995. Until 2006 she was an Assistant Professor (VPT) with the Department of Family Medicine and a Clinical Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She has been a member of the Council of the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 2002 and is a past President of the College.

Links

Below are some links to other sites which clients may find helpful.

The Alzheimer Society of Ottawa: http://www.alzheimerott.org/

Stroke Survivors of Ottawa: http://www.strokesurvivors.ca/