Joyce Matthews-Rurak, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has extensive experience providing psychoeducational and psychological assessments for students from elementary school through graduate and professional schools. She specializes in helping to clarify the strengths and challenges of students presenting with symptoms of Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other learning differences. She works collaboratively with families, school personnel, and other professionals, believing that this is critical to optimizing the assessment experience and the benefits that can come from testing. Dr. Matthews-Rurak has extensive experience working with students and families interested in applying for special education services and academic accommodations for school and standardized tests. She is passionate about helping students reach their potential and has had the pleasure of working with students from a variety of public and private schools and many of the Virginia colleges and universities.
Dr. Matthews-Rurak received a B.A. in psychology from The University of Virginia. She then earned her M.S. and Psy.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She completed an internship at the Center for Assessment and Intervention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and postdoctoral residency at The School of Education at The University of Virginia. Dr. Matthews-Rurak has conducted assessments and provided individual therapy at a university, out-patient clinic and a private practice in Northern Virginia. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults seeking assessments to contribute to decision-making related to medical, psychological, and educational services.
Clinical Population: Assessment of children, adolescents, and adults
Primary Theoretical Orientation(s): Cognitive behavioral therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Strengths-Based, Solution-focused Therapy
Areas of Clinical Interests: Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, School/Academic Challenges, School placement and admission testing