Dr. Zelek received his doctoral degree from Yeshiva University, Graduate School of Psychology in New York, majoring in Clinical Health Psychology. He also holds a medical degree from Lithuania, where he graduated from Kaunas University of Medicine and worked as a psychiatrist until he moved to the U.S. in 1984. Dr. Zelek completed his post-doctoral training at NYU Medical Center, Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation, where he worked as a supervising neuropsychologist for 8 years prior to moving with his family to the Hudson Valley area in 2002. From 2002 to 2014 Dr. Zelek was Director of Neuropsychology Department at the Northeast Center for Rehabilitation and Brain Injury in Lake Katrine, NY, a 280-bed inpatient facility dedicated to treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with brain injury (www.northeastcenter.com).
Dr. Zelek has been using neurofeedback since 1998. He is a Diplomate of National Registry of Neurofeedback Providers. Many patients with ADD, Traumatic Brain Injury, stroke, brain Lyme, Chronic Fatigue, anxiety, depression, PTSD, addictions, sleep disorder and headaches have benefited from this form of treatment in his practice. He has presented his neurofeedback research at many scientific conferences both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Zelek is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Brain Research Foundation (www.ibrfinc.org), and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Psychology & Clinical Psychiatry (http://medcraveonline.com/JPCPY/editorial-board).
What is Neuropsychology?
American Psychological Association offers the following definition of neuropsychology:
"Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty profession that focuses on brain functioning. A clinical neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with expertise in how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems. In clinical neuropsychology, brain function is evaluated by objectively testing memory and thinking skills. A very detailed assessment of abilities is done, and the pattern of strengths and weaknesses is used in important health areas, such as diagnosis and treatment planning. The clinical neuropsychologist conducts the evaluation and makes recommendations. He or she may also provide treatment, such as cognitive rehabilitation, behavior management, or psychotherapy."
Neuropsychologists undergo the same graduate level training as clinical psychologists. In addition to this training, neuropsychologists study in depth brain anatomy and functioning, neuro-cognitive impairments, methods of cognitive assessment and brain-behavior correlations. While brain imaging (e.g., CT, MRI, PET or SPECT) may provide useful information about the structural integrity of the brain, blood flow or glucose metabolism, neuropsychological testing provides detailed information about the cognitive functioning of the brain. Such cognitive functions as attention, memory, spatial perception, speed of information processing, sequencing, language, mental flexibility and general intelligence may be measured precisely with neuropsychological tools. Neuropsychological treatment might include specialized exercises and drills to improve compromised areas of cognitive functioning, learning of compensatory strategies, behavior management, psychotherapy, biofeedback, neurofeedback and stress management.
Victor Zelek, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist. He maintains a private practice in Rhinebeck, NY. Psychological services offered by Dr. Zelek include Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing, QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalography), Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, Psychotherapy, Couples Therapy, Cognitive Remediation, Stress Management, Forensic Evaluations and Expert Testimonies.
