Newsletter August 2023

Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr. Asal Nejad has joined our team a testing psychologist. Dr. Nejad provides in-depth testing for teens who may benefit from diagnostic clarification during their stay at Polaris. As an integrated part of our services, parents and providers are able to get testing scheduled, completed and reviewed promptly, which has proven to be beneficial for many of our clients in treatment and aftercare planning.

Dr. Asal Houshiarnejad “Nejad” is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist (CA PSY 28994) who specializes in providing cutting-edge neuropsychological assessments. Dr. Nejad evaluates pediatric, adolescents, and young adults who present with a broad range of neurodevelopmental, neurological, medical, and psychiatric conditions. She is also sensitive to cross-cultural and linguistic factors in the evaluation and therapy process. Combining her vast clinical experience with her state-of-the-art training, Dr. Nejad’s unique and warm approach to testing yields a comprehensive understanding of the individuals’ neurocognitive, academic, psychological, and social-emotional functioning. Dr. Nejad creates an individualized roadmap addressing each patient and their family’s unique needs that identifies and prioritizes necessary treatment recommendations and/or academic accommodations.

Dr. Nejad earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego. Dr. Nejad has undergone extensive training, completing a pre-doctoral internship accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) at BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she completed a formal two-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology through the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the David Geffen School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. She is also a devoted mother who enjoys her time outside of the practice with her three young children and husband.