BIO
Dr Connolly is a consultant clinical neuropsychologist who provides specialist assessment and rehabilitation for adults with an acquired brain or spinal injury, and also education and support to their families. She has over twenty years experience working with people struggling to come to terms with the consequences of brain or spinal
injury or illness.
Dr Connolly has worked at nationally and internationally renowned centres throughout her career, both in rehabilitation and diagnostic services. She has held posts at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney. She has held head of department and head of therapy roles and has set up and managed clinical rehabilitation programmes. She has provided neuropsychological reports to the Court since 1994.
SERVICES
Assessment
Rehabilitation
& Therapy
Medico-Legal
Specialist neuropsychological assessment considers cognitive or thinking skills, emotional state, behavioural issues, trauma and adjustment.
Such an assessment will also consider the interaction between these factors. It may be recommended following:
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• A diagnosis or question about diagnosis of a
dementia
• Hypoxic injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Encephalitis
• Spinal injury
• Other damage or disease of the nervous system
Dr Connolly is an expert in these assessments. Such an assessment usually takes in the region of four hours. It can be done at Harley Street, in the person’s home or other place in the community, such as a workplace. Comprehensive reports are provided which integrate the impact of cognitive, behavioural and psychological factors after brain or spinal injury.
The information gained through an assessment process is used to design bespoke rehabilitation programmes for individuals. The starting point is what the individual wants to achieve through rehabilitation, a consideration of their strengths and weaknesses, the environment in which they live and work and the support they may have.
Dr Connolly has worked with individuals with a very wide range of diagnoses. She has expertise in working with individuals who are profoundly physically disabled, who have suffered catastrophic brain injury or who are dealing with locked-in syndrome. She has worked with individuals with significant cognitive or behavioural change but no evident physical disability – the hidden disability group who may be trying to manage a return to independent or supported living within the community or a return to work.
When it is appropriate and possible to work with other rehabilitation professionals, Dr Connolly expects to work in alliance with other therapists, creating an interdisciplinary framework based on the primary goals of the individuals. Dr Connolly has experience of generating and managing this type of teamwork.
Dr Connolly also works with people with brain and spinal injury to manage emotional and adjustment issues.
Dr Connolly has over twenty years experience of medico-legal work. She has provided expert reports to Court and has experience of cross-examination in the field of neuropsychology. She has been instructed in:
• Personal injury claims
• Mental Capacity assessments
• Clinical negligence claims
• Testamentary Capacity
• Parenting Capacity
Dr Connolly’s knowledge and experience in rehabilitation as well as assessment allows her to comment comprehensively on both the cognitive and emotional presentation and also on the impact of these injuries on the individual’s lifestyle, occupational capacity and the support they may require.
Dr Connolly accepts instruction on behalf of claimants, defendants and also joint instructions.
Family Work
Teaching/training
The families of people with brain and spinal cord injuries also struggle to come to terms with:
• What has happened to their loved one
• The impact this has had on relationships and roles
within the family
• The sudden and unexpected change in how the
future looks.
Dr Connolly has specialist skills in working with families, including the children of those affected by brain and spinal cord injury. She is able to provide both educational support and therapeutic support with adjustment issues.
Dr Connolly has been involved in teaching and training for many years. She has contributed to university teaching at all levels from undergraduate to doctoral and post-doctoral programmes, including the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology of the Division of Neuropsychology of the British Psychological Society. She has extensive experience of supervising Clinical Psychology trainees from a number of different training courses. Dr Connolly has also supervised MSc and PhD students.
Dr Connolly provides professional supervision to senior colleagues in the profession.
QUALIFICATIONS
Dr Connolly graduated from UCL with an Honours degree in Psychology. She went on to obtain a PhD in the field of neuropsychology from Manchester University before completing her clinical doctoral training at Plymouth University.
Dr Connolly holds the following professional memberships:
· HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist (Reg. No.PYL04768)
· Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society (BPS)
· Member of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the BPS
· Member of the Division of Neuropsychology (DoN) of the BPS
· On the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists of DoN
Dr Connolly also holds the following qualifications:
· Expert Witness Certificate, University of Cardiff Law School
· Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management Skills, Institute of Leadership and Management
· Certificate in Performance Development Coaching
Dr Connolly has previously acted as an executive committee member of the Division of Neuropsychology and is a current member of the Ethics Committee of the BPS.
Contact
