Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisabeth Thurlow.
Hi Elisabeth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the beautiful La Jolla, and I have always felt a special connection to our community. After graduating from La Jolla High, I attended UCLA to pursue a degree in psychology, and while there I became fascinated with the psychology of personality. I worked closely with Professor Andrew Comrey at UCLA, contributing to research studies comparing the relationships between personality tests. This utterly fascinating experience sparked a lifelong interest in understanding what makes people tick. I continued my academic pursuits by earning a doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychological assessment at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore.
My career path has been interesting and varied. I’ve worked in a variety of private practice settings combining assessment with evidence-based treatment approaches. I also taught Clinical Psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and for a number of years, I was a staff psychologist at the University of Miami, a leading center in autism research. At the Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic at UM, I had the privilege of conducting comprehensive evaluations using the ADOS-2, which is widely recognized as the gold standard in autism assessment measures. One of the aspects of my role at UM that I cherished most was training PhD students how to conduct exceptional psychological evaluations with both scientific rigor and compassion.
In 2019, I returned to La Jolla after three decades away. Unable to find a practice that resonated with my core values, I decided to open my own–Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology. Brain Spectrum has blossomed into a vibrant clinic, embodying the caring, tailored approach and commitment to quality that I envisioned. It’s the kind of practice where every evaluation is conducted with the same dedication and attention to detail I would want for my own family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh gosh, how can we forget the COVID-19 pandemic? Health professionals’ sudden need to pivot to online care required me to quickly adapt to various telehealth platforms—something that did not come naturally to me as a “non-techie.” Despite my trepidation, however, I muddled through, trying my best to ensure that my clients continued to receive the care they needed.
Now that we have thankfully resumed in-person evaluations, the telehealth experience has enriched our practice at Brain Spectrum, enabling us to offer our services flexibly. However, another challenge we now face is managing the overwhelmingly positive response to our services. The community’s growing demand for our high-quality neuropsychological evaluations means that we now need to do our own growing as well.
To address this need, I am gradually expanding our team, but I remain committed to my vision of providing gold-standard, client-centered care. As a result, our growth has been careful and deliberate. My primary goal is to maintain our identity as a boutique practice—small and special—where each client receives the personalized attention they deserve. While it can sometimes be challenging to accommodate everyone quickly, this approach ensures that we never compromise on the quality of care.
As you know, we’re big fans of Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive and personalized neuropsychological and psychological evaluations across the lifespan. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality, responsiveness, and compassion. Our evaluations are carefully tailored to the individual, ensuring that every client receives the kind of service I would want for my own family. This is the cornerstone of our practice.
We specialize in evaluating and diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder, with a particular emphasis on recognizing the unique challenges faced by adults with autism–particularly women and girls, who may have learned to mask their ASD symptoms. Our neurodiversity-affirming approach is infused with a deep respect for human diversity, and we strive to create a positive, trustworthy environment that many of our clients have described as their first truly affirming experience with a healthcare professional.
In addition to our focus on autism, we offer diagnostic evaluations for a wide array of learning disorders, including dyslexia, nonverbal learning disorders, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, processing disorders, memory impairment, motor coordination disorders, ADHD, and other conditions. More recently, we have also expanded the scope of our practice to include diagnostic and investigative evaluations for dementia, brain injury, and conditions related to aging and head trauma. As with everything we do, we always use gold-standard evaluation techniques and evidence-based practices.
Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology prides itself on collaboration, working closely with families, teachers, and other experts in the field, to understand the complex challenges of our clients. Throughout the evaluation process, we also work hard to provide clients and their families with personalized recommendations (along with introductions to other relevant professionals and resources in the community) for how they can use their new understanding of their personal strengths and weaknesses to improve their lives in meaningful ways.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
By nature, I’m not a risk-taker; in fact, I’ve always leaned towards being reserved, conscientious, and structured, which typically goes along with a preference for safety and predictability. Anxiety has been a lifelong struggle, often nudging me towards structured work environments, like university clinics or training positions.
However, life has a way of teaching us that growth often lies just beyond the edge of our comfort zones. As I gained more experience, I found myself searching for a practice that matched my standards for quality, rigor, and care. It was then that I realized the biggest risk I could take was to create it myself. Starting a practice from scratch was truly daunting, but the desire to build something meaningful was stronger than my fear.
In the beginning, it was just me, pouring my heart into the high-quality evaluations that have defined my career. But word travels fast when you’re committed to excellence, and slowly, I’ve been building a small team of psychologists and support staff. Each member of the Brain Spectrum team shares my values and is dedicated to carrying forward the vision that started it all.
Looking back, I’m really proud of what I’ve built. The journey here has taught me that taking risks—especially those that push you out of your comfort zone—are essential for growth. And while I may still prefer the safe and predictable, I’ve learned that calculated risks can lead to extraordinary rewards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brainspectrumneuro.com/
