Caedy Young
Ph.D.
As an assessment psychologist, it is my belief that accurate diagnosing is a critical first step in any mental health journey.
With neuropsychological assessment, I support patients using a tailored testing approach to evaluate cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms in order to inform a comprehensive treatment plan. Whether you are seeking to improve your functioning, reduce symptoms, or better understand your lived experience, I am excited to help you get started.
I have always been fascinated with the brain, and particularly interested in cognition. When there are impairments in cognition due to development, disease, or dysfunction, neuropsychological assessment is our best tool for understanding the etiology and trajectory of those concerns in order to cultivate a customized treatment plan for each patient. I love being able to help patients better understand their brain, lived experience, identity, and symptoms through psychoeducation and collaboration during the evaluation. My evaluations are tailored to the needs of the patient, and I take a process-analysis approach to inform interpretation of data for diagnosis to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis sometimes seen in deficit-based or discrepancy-based diagnosing for adults. There are inherent biases and limitations within standardized testing, and I always strive to ensure that each evaluation is evidence-based, culturally informed, trauma responsive, and contextually appropriate for my patient. Testing can be a challenging, even intimidating process for some patients – my goal is to help you feel seen, heard, and supported throughout our work together. In therapy, clients and clinicians often have weeks or months of relationship and rapport building - with assessment, we have a much more limited timeframe to connect, so I come to each evaluation with curiosity and readiness to hear your story. My interpersonal approach with patients can be described as validating, pragmatic, and relatable, and I receive feedback from patients that they feel like I have a genuine investment in their health and wellbeing - which is what I always hope to convey! I truly love the work I do, and I believe this is apparent in the way I interact with those in my care.
Outside of my work as a psychologist, I am a perpetual student - I am currently completing my third Master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University, and I am always looking for opportunities to learn more about the brain through continuing education and trainings. Beyond academics, I’m a complete nerd - I love all things Star Wars, Pokemon, or Dungeons and Dragons related, and can be found playing a variety of card/tabletop/video games with friends. I love animals, and love spending time with our pets (a bunch of cats - mostly Maine Coons, and a 26-year-old leopard gecko), as well as petting any dog I encounter.
I assist clients who are experiencing a range of presenting concerns including executive dysfunction, memory impairment, impaired processing speed, subjective cognitive decline, inattention, poor focus/hyperfocus, impulsivity, hyperactivity, poor social relatedness, difficulty with emotion regulation, problems with cognitive shifting or poor tolerance for change, problems with reading/writing/math, and difficulty with academic functioning.
Areas of Focus
WHO I WORK WITH: Adults
While I work with a wide range of people and presenting problems, some of my most common topics of focus include:
Psychological Assessment
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Anxiety and related disorders
Trauma and stressor related disorders
Neuropsychological Assessment
Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, specific learning disorders)
Neurodegenerative disease (various dementias including FTD; multiple sclerosis)
Neurocognitive disorders (traumatic brain injury/concussion, vascular dementia)
Approach
I provide psychological and neuropsychological assessment for the purpose of diagnostic clarity, treatment planning, and improving outcomes. Though assessment is different from therapy, it is my belief that testing can be an intervention in and of itself, as it can not only provide a diagnosis, but also peace of mind, validation, affirmation, support, and a clear path for next steps.
Professional Background
My professional interests have predominantly centered on the assessment of memory and cognition for adults across the lifespan. My initial interest in clinical neuropsychology began with my research on subjective cognitive decline and the significant overlap in clinical presentation between prodromal dementia and ADHD in middle-aged to older adults. During graduate school, I pursued specialized training in both geropsychology and neurodevelopmental disorders. I completed my predoctoral internship and postdoctoral residency at Portland State University, where I developed my own fellowship focused on neuropsychological assessment for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. After completing my doctoral training, I worked as the Director of Neuropsychological Assessment at Portland State, where I led a team of practicum students, residents, and psychologists. I also have experience working in community mental health, larger scale mental health organizations, and private practice.
Education Credentials
Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.; Pacific University, 2020)
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology (MS equivalency; Pacific University, 2018)
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MS; Pacific University, 2015)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA; Pacific University, 2012)
Anticipated: Master of Arts in Scientific Writing (MA; Johns Hopkins University, anticipated 2027)