Ms. Carla Khalil
Carla is a lifespan-trained Clinical Neuropsychologist deeply immersed in the realm of neuroscience and cognitive training and rehabilitation. She has experience in a diverse range of a clinical settings, including psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics, and geriatrics, in both inpatient and outpatient capacities. Her expertise spans clinical psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroscientific research. Additionally, Carla is adamant on community outreach and raising awareness and advocating for mental health and neurodiversity, and fostering inclusivity and understanding in her field.
Carla specializes in the neuropsychological and psychological assessment and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, Tic disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders (such as Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities), neurodegenerative diseases (dementias), cerebrovascular diseases (strokes, aneurysms), and psychiatric disorders. She collaborates closely with other professionals, families and schools, consistently underscoring the importance of therapy and intervention. She offers multimodal identity therapy sessions aimed at enhancing the quality of life of individuals, using techniques including CBT, BPT, HRT, Biofeedback, CBCT, Narrative Therapy and ACT.
Integrating technology in the assessment and treatment of neuropsychological disorders
Neuropsychological practice currently offers the gold standard in understanding brain-behavior relationships that are not accounted for by structural analyses. Considering that it is founded on using complex behavioral data to inform our understanding of brain functions in the context of psychosocial constructs, there remains scope for enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of data gathering, analyses, and evidence-based neuropsychological intervention. Current challenges with accruing ecologically valid and objective data through standardized methods applied by trained specialists has involved a greater investment of time, effort, and money, relative to other associated healthcare activities and for both service providers and seekers. Thus, the concept of leveraging digital and technological tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment effectiveness is integral to advancement in the field. In this presentation, we discuss the application of digital technologies that can be incorporated into the assessment and treatment of neurologically- and psychologically-based cognitive difficulties. For this, we discuss the scope of tools such as biofeedback (Tinello et al., 2022), virtual reality (VR; Denmark et al., 2019; Spreij et al., 2022; van de Wouw et al., 2023), Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS; Pink et al., 2021; Málly, & Stone, 2007), and Artificial Intelligence (AI; Dashwood et al., 2021; Uddin et al., 2019). We further discuss their limitations, challenges that may impede their application, and methods with which these tools can be integrated to leverage data-driven precision, with specific focus on decision-making strategies and developmental processes that ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability (Bilder & Reise, 2019; Germine et al., 2019). Finally, we consolidate practice standards and research findings (e.g., Fernandez, 2019) to offer suggestions on how neuropsychological practitioners can collaborate with other professionals within the healthcare treatment team and program developers to optimize the integration and adaptation of such technologies to the GCC context, specifically in terms of linguistic, social, educational, and environmental differences from the predominant North American norm.