Abate Maura Ph. D.

Information may not be reliable

Welcome

I work primarily with children, adolescents, young adults and families and my specialty areas include neuropsychological evaluations, child and family counseling, and educational consulting.
My goal, through testing, counseling, or consulting, is to help identify a child’s unique strengths and weaknesses, and then to increase the child’s levels of functioning within the many systems of the child’s environment. I believe that all children struggle at various points in their development, often because they need the skills or strategies that life demands of them. Once these skills or strategies are identified, targeted and taught in a way that fits with the child’s learning style, then overall functioning improves.

Review and Explanation of School Testing Reports, IEP Process, 504 Plans

Assistance in Determining Retention vs. Promotion into Next Grade Level
School/Classroom Observations
Child Advocacy at School Meetings
Collaboration with Other Therapists, Professionals and Agencies :

Specific Learning Disabilities (Reading Disabilities/Dyslexia, Writing Disabilities, Math Disabilities)
Developmental Delays and Developmental Disabilities, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Asperger’s Disorder, Mental Retardation, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Sensory Integration Difficulties

Mood Disorders including Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Anxiety Disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Selective Mutism, Attachment Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Eating Disorders including Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating
Adjustment Disorders due to Family Changes, School Changes, etc.

I adhere to the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Included in these principles is a commitment to client confidentiality.

All of my services are fee-for-service.
Evaluations: The fees for evaluations range from $300 to $3000, depending on the specific issues, referral questions, and time involved.
Counseling and Consulting: My counseling/consulting rate is typically $120 per hour, but may vary.
Health Insurance: Health insurance does not typically cover school-related or family concerns, and getting evaluations and therapy sessions authorized is often cumbersome and time consuming, time I would prefer to spend helping clients. Involving health insurance companies in the process typically results in a loss of confidentiality that has a negative impact on children in particular. Insurance files could be used against them in the future should they decide to apply for certain jobs or educational programs, such as law enforcement, the military, or government-related positions. Clients may contact their health insurance company to ask if there are any benefits to cover fees of out-of-network psychologist providers. I am happy to provide receipts to submit to insurance companies for your reimbursement, along with the relevant diagnostic and procedural codes. Clients who have pursued reimbursement are often successful, especially if there is a medically related issue.

I encourage you to contact me if you would like more information or to schedule an appointment. You may call me at 978-499-0509 or email me. I pride myself in returning messages within 24 hours.

I am a licensed Psychologist, Child Clinical Neuropsychologist and nationally certified School Psychologist in private practice since 2003. Over the past 20 years, I have worked in a variety of clinical and school settings, including children’s hospitals, mental health clinics, private schools, public schools, and colleges.
I received my doctorate in Clinical Psychology (child/family proficiency) from the APA-accredited California School of Professional Psychology in 1994. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Children’s Hospital in Boston where I was also a clinical fellow in Psychology through the department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. My post-doctoral training in Child Clinical Neuropsychology was performed at North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem. I also have two master's degrees, one in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (1992) and the other in Education from Harvard University (1987). Please refer to my Vita for more details.

Telephone: 978-499-0509
Fax: 978-499-0509 (Please call prior to sending fax to be sure phone line is switched.)

Office Location & Directions:
Office Location: 18 Center Street, Suite 2, Newburyport, MA 01950