Our approach to mental health
We base our assessment work on a model called Therapeutic Assessment (TA), in which clients and clinicians work collaboratively together to:
Identify meaningful questions about the challenges they face
Explore and understand the answers to these questions through a combination of testing and therapeutic techniques, and
Develop next-step solutions for what can be done to help.
Sometimes the answers to assessment questions can be summarized and understood as a particular diagnosis (for example: ADHD, learning disability, depression). Sometimes, the explanation might be a little more complex.
Jennifer Boike Armerding, PsyD
Jennifer is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who is particularly interested in an integrated, therapeutic style of testing which appreciates brain-behavior relationships alongside the deeper and dynamic emotional life. She completed her APA clinical internship at the University of Minnesota Medical School in pediatric neuropsychology before completing a two-year postdoctoral associateship conducting integrated neuropsychological and psychological testing with children and adults in Concord, MA. Currently, she is a staff neuropsychologist at a neurology clinic in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, where she conducts neuropsychological evaluations with older adults. In addition to her assessment experience, Jennifer has conducted individual psychotherapy with clients across the lifespan; has worked in case management for adults with severe and persistent mental illness; and has experience as a home-based therapist for children with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Jennifer’s doctoral research explored the role of family environment in the relationship between life stress and psychopathology in internationally adopted children. Additional interests include attachment, affective neuroscience, and developmental psychopathology. She also has training in Therapeutic Assessment and is working toward certification in that model.
Jennifer earned her doctorate in clinical psychology (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) following her B.A. (New York University) and M.A. (Columbia University). Prior to her career shift into psychology, she was a professional dancer in New York City.