Dr. Veronica I. Olvera, Psy.D. (Dr. V) Bilingual Clinical Neuropsychologist
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Dr. Veronica I. Olvera, Psy.D.
PSY #23490
Bilingual Clinical NeuropsychologistOWNER AND EXECUTIVE CLINICAL DIRECTOR dr.veronica@neuroedclinic.com (951) 266-6223
Bilingual Clinical NeuropsychologistOWNER AND EXECUTIVE CLINICAL DIRECTOR dr.veronica@neuroedclinic.com (951) 266-6223
Thank you for visiting my website to inquire more about who I am, the evaluations I provide, and about the referral process! Scroll down to view and/or print my curriculum vitae.
WHO AM I?
My professional name is - Dr. Veronica I. Olvera, Psy.D., PSY #23490. However, I refer to myself as Dr. Veronica or Dr. V for simplicity purposes. I am a Bilingual Clinical Neuropsychologist and service all age span (from ages 3 and up) in either English, Spanish, or Bilingual.
I am the proud owner of and Executive Clinical Director of Neuro-Educational Clinic (Neuro-Ed Clinic or NEC for short).
WHO DO I SERVE AND WHAT TYPES OF EVALUATIONS DO I CONDUCT?
I provide Psycho-Educational and Neuro-Educational evaluations (psycho-educational evaluations that incorporate neuropsychological measures for educational purposes). I also provide mental health evaluations for school-age students (known as Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS). As high school students approach graduation, often times, they are left to wonder which career path is most suitable for them. To assist in this manner, I offer Transition Plan Evaluations.
Since I also work with adults and the geriatric population, I hold privileges at various medical facilities within Riverside and San Bernardino counties providing a range of psychological services including neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy (individual, group, and family therapy). Lastly, I provide neuropsychological evaluations to personal injury patients referred to me by their attorneys.
I have been in private practice since 2010 and have dedicated my focus primarily to school-age children, providing them with second opinion evaluations (commonly known as Independent Educational Evaluations or IEEs). MY BACKGROUND - EDUCATION AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING
High School
I attended Sweetwater High School located in National City, an underprivileged low-income community within the county of San Diego. I graduated in white with Honors in 1996, the 16th of my graduating class, with a GPA of 4.0. I received the official seal of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), reflected on my high school diploma, and obtained the following awards:
~ Perfect Attendance
~ Distinction Award in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
~ Award - Top 3 of a Banking Scholarship Program that lead to my first job during the summer (bank teller)
During my high school years, I played soccer and become involved in MECHA. As a Mexican American female, bilingual in English and Spanish, I feel strongly that I can identify with many current students growing up in and around the Greater Los Angeles area.
Having experienced homelessness during my high school years, yet excelling in academics and maintaining focus on my aspirational goals and future career endeavors, I believe I am an example to many adolescents experiencing struggles in life. I have demonstrated resiliency despite facing many obstacles and challenges. I believe that your childhood experiences can serve to make you stronger and more ambitious. It can help shape you as an individual who can in turn assist others in the process.
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
I attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) straight from high school. I majored in Criminology and Psychology where I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2000:
~ B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior
~ B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society
I graduated Summa Cum Laude (with Highest Honor, GPA 4.0).
Graduate - Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
While my Master's (2003) and Doctorate (2006) degrees at Azusa Pacific University were in Clinical Psychology, my specific clinical training specialized in Clinical Neuropsychology with training across all age span.
I graduated with Outstanding Clinical Competency, valedictorian of my class with a GPA of 3.865.
I also received the Special Contribution to Diversity and Social Justice award.
Throughout my doctoral program, I received the maximum scholarship possible at that time in my position as a Teaching and Research Assistant (TRA).
Clinical Experience (Practicum, Internship, and Post-Doctoral Fellowship)
I had the privilege of training under the tutelage of many exceptional bilingual clinicians throughout the course of my studies. I had the opportunity to train under the supervision of Dr. Xavier F. Salazar, Psy.D. and world-renowned neurologist, Dr. Helena Chui, M.D. while working on Alzheimer's disease research with the geriatric population at Rancho Los Amigos, USC.
I went on to complete an internship at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBP) working with the female and male inmate population who had committed a federal offense. There, at Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles (MDC-LA), I focused my training on Forensic Psychology. I shadowed a psychiatrist during rounds and also administered neuropsychological measures, furthering my specialty of choice.
I completed a formal post-doctorate fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center to become a neuropsychologist under the supervision of internationally or world renown neuropsychologists - Dr. Marcel O. Ponton, Ph.D. and Dr. Kyle B. Boone, Ph.D.
Professional Experience (Prior to and After Licensure)
Upon completing my post-doc fellowship and studying for my license exam, I taught full-time as a professor at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in the M.A. and Psy.D. programs.
In 2010, I took and passed my license exam in California as a psychologist and went on to work full-time as a clinical neuropsychologist at Executive Mental Health in Beverly Hills under the supervision of Dr. Ari Kalechstein, Ph.D.
Private Practice - 10 Years and Counting!
My training and amazing supervision under reputable clinicians has afforded me the exceptional experience to offer families with impartial and objective evaluations. I have worked with many school districts providing families with second opinion evaluations since 2010. My evaluations are data driven and student-focused. My reports are helpful to both district personnel and parents alike.
Private Life
I am remarried and the wife of a compassionate, caring, and loving man. I am a mother raising two wonderful and amazing boys! I had my boys after I finished my doctorate program and my post-doctoral fellowship.
I built my practice offering IEEs not knowing that one day I would be in need of one. I am a true believer of early intervention. While my boys required special education services during their early childhood, both began the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program during their Kindergarten year. Both are becoming proficient in both English and Spanish. I am happy to report that with early intervention services afforded to them, both my boys are thriving and succeeding!
My oldest son wishes to become a neurosurgeon ("un neurocirujano", as he would say) and my youngest son wishes to become, an anesthesiologist ("un anestesiólogo", as he would say). I am excited to see what they make of their future!
In my experience, I have found that parents feel most comfortable entrusting their child's IEE to a professional who truly understands what they are going through. I believe that I have the book knowledge as well as the life experience that has afforded me the added compassion, empathy, and understanding of what parents experience in their pursuit of an IEE.
I strongly believe that I am able to provide both district and parents with the most comprehensive impartial IEE possible. (After all, I was once married to a public school employee. And, both my boys continue to attend public school.) My results are data driven. I am able to weave out and identify what the student needs to be successful in his/her academic career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me directly at dr.veronica@neuroedclinic.com or contact me by phone at (951) 266-6223. I look forward to working with you in the near future!
WHO AM I?
My professional name is - Dr. Veronica I. Olvera, Psy.D., PSY #23490. However, I refer to myself as Dr. Veronica or Dr. V for simplicity purposes. I am a Bilingual Clinical Neuropsychologist and service all age span (from ages 3 and up) in either English, Spanish, or Bilingual.
I am the proud owner of and Executive Clinical Director of Neuro-Educational Clinic (Neuro-Ed Clinic or NEC for short).
WHO DO I SERVE AND WHAT TYPES OF EVALUATIONS DO I CONDUCT?
I provide Psycho-Educational and Neuro-Educational evaluations (psycho-educational evaluations that incorporate neuropsychological measures for educational purposes). I also provide mental health evaluations for school-age students (known as Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS). As high school students approach graduation, often times, they are left to wonder which career path is most suitable for them. To assist in this manner, I offer Transition Plan Evaluations.
Since I also work with adults and the geriatric population, I hold privileges at various medical facilities within Riverside and San Bernardino counties providing a range of psychological services including neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy (individual, group, and family therapy). Lastly, I provide neuropsychological evaluations to personal injury patients referred to me by their attorneys.
I have been in private practice since 2010 and have dedicated my focus primarily to school-age children, providing them with second opinion evaluations (commonly known as Independent Educational Evaluations or IEEs). MY BACKGROUND - EDUCATION AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING
High School
I attended Sweetwater High School located in National City, an underprivileged low-income community within the county of San Diego. I graduated in white with Honors in 1996, the 16th of my graduating class, with a GPA of 4.0. I received the official seal of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), reflected on my high school diploma, and obtained the following awards:
~ Perfect Attendance
~ Distinction Award in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
~ Award - Top 3 of a Banking Scholarship Program that lead to my first job during the summer (bank teller)
During my high school years, I played soccer and become involved in MECHA. As a Mexican American female, bilingual in English and Spanish, I feel strongly that I can identify with many current students growing up in and around the Greater Los Angeles area.
Having experienced homelessness during my high school years, yet excelling in academics and maintaining focus on my aspirational goals and future career endeavors, I believe I am an example to many adolescents experiencing struggles in life. I have demonstrated resiliency despite facing many obstacles and challenges. I believe that your childhood experiences can serve to make you stronger and more ambitious. It can help shape you as an individual who can in turn assist others in the process.
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
I attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) straight from high school. I majored in Criminology and Psychology where I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2000:
~ B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior
~ B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society
I graduated Summa Cum Laude (with Highest Honor, GPA 4.0).
Graduate - Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
While my Master's (2003) and Doctorate (2006) degrees at Azusa Pacific University were in Clinical Psychology, my specific clinical training specialized in Clinical Neuropsychology with training across all age span.
I graduated with Outstanding Clinical Competency, valedictorian of my class with a GPA of 3.865.
I also received the Special Contribution to Diversity and Social Justice award.
Throughout my doctoral program, I received the maximum scholarship possible at that time in my position as a Teaching and Research Assistant (TRA).
Clinical Experience (Practicum, Internship, and Post-Doctoral Fellowship)
I had the privilege of training under the tutelage of many exceptional bilingual clinicians throughout the course of my studies. I had the opportunity to train under the supervision of Dr. Xavier F. Salazar, Psy.D. and world-renowned neurologist, Dr. Helena Chui, M.D. while working on Alzheimer's disease research with the geriatric population at Rancho Los Amigos, USC.
I went on to complete an internship at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBP) working with the female and male inmate population who had committed a federal offense. There, at Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles (MDC-LA), I focused my training on Forensic Psychology. I shadowed a psychiatrist during rounds and also administered neuropsychological measures, furthering my specialty of choice.
I completed a formal post-doctorate fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center to become a neuropsychologist under the supervision of internationally or world renown neuropsychologists - Dr. Marcel O. Ponton, Ph.D. and Dr. Kyle B. Boone, Ph.D.
Professional Experience (Prior to and After Licensure)
Upon completing my post-doc fellowship and studying for my license exam, I taught full-time as a professor at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in the M.A. and Psy.D. programs.
In 2010, I took and passed my license exam in California as a psychologist and went on to work full-time as a clinical neuropsychologist at Executive Mental Health in Beverly Hills under the supervision of Dr. Ari Kalechstein, Ph.D.
Private Practice - 10 Years and Counting!
My training and amazing supervision under reputable clinicians has afforded me the exceptional experience to offer families with impartial and objective evaluations. I have worked with many school districts providing families with second opinion evaluations since 2010. My evaluations are data driven and student-focused. My reports are helpful to both district personnel and parents alike.
Private Life
I am remarried and the wife of a compassionate, caring, and loving man. I am a mother raising two wonderful and amazing boys! I had my boys after I finished my doctorate program and my post-doctoral fellowship.
I built my practice offering IEEs not knowing that one day I would be in need of one. I am a true believer of early intervention. While my boys required special education services during their early childhood, both began the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program during their Kindergarten year. Both are becoming proficient in both English and Spanish. I am happy to report that with early intervention services afforded to them, both my boys are thriving and succeeding!
My oldest son wishes to become a neurosurgeon ("un neurocirujano", as he would say) and my youngest son wishes to become, an anesthesiologist ("un anestesiólogo", as he would say). I am excited to see what they make of their future!
In my experience, I have found that parents feel most comfortable entrusting their child's IEE to a professional who truly understands what they are going through. I believe that I have the book knowledge as well as the life experience that has afforded me the added compassion, empathy, and understanding of what parents experience in their pursuit of an IEE.
I strongly believe that I am able to provide both district and parents with the most comprehensive impartial IEE possible. (After all, I was once married to a public school employee. And, both my boys continue to attend public school.) My results are data driven. I am able to weave out and identify what the student needs to be successful in his/her academic career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me directly at dr.veronica@neuroedclinic.com or contact me by phone at (951) 266-6223. I look forward to working with you in the near future!