Lauren Poth, PhD
Behavioral Health | Neuropsychology
New patients by referral
“I love being able to work with children directly, as well as providing their families important information regarding their strengths and weaknesses to inform a comprehensive, targeted treatment plan.”
Pediatric neuropsychology evaluations seek to clarify your child’s neurobehavioral strengths and weaknesses. Evaluations typically begin with an intake appointment during which Dr. Poth will ask questions about your child’s development, history, and your current concerns. Next, your child will come in person to complete the testing appointment, which typically takes about 4-5 hours and consists of various activities, including paper and pencil tasks and computer-based tasks. Finally, Dr. Poth will meet with you for the feedback appointment to discuss the evaluation results, diagnoses, and recommendations, which will then be available in a comprehensive report.
Pediatric Neuropsychology evaluations include:
• Medical conditions (such as epilepsy or brain tumors)
• Genetic disorders (such as Trisomy X Syndrome)
• Learning disorders (such as dyslexia or math disorders)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders
Language(s) - English
Dr. Poth was born and raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Upon graduating high school, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of New Mexico. During that time, she was able to study abroad in Perth, Australia, which sparked a love for travel and experiencing different cultures. In the years following her graduation, she moved to San Diego, California, to complete her doctoral degree in clinical psychology. She specialized in neuropsychology as well as child and adolescent psychopathology. Additional training through her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship specializing in pediatric neuropsychology allowed her to further refine and develop essential skills in understanding brain-behavior relationships and working with diverse pediatric populations.
Dr. Poth’s interest in psychology can be traced to her high school AP psychology class. There, she was first introduced to scientific understandings of the brain and behavior and knew she wanted to pursue a healthcare profession. That class prompted her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she took every opportunity to volunteer in psychology research labs. One such lab investigated the cognitive characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders using neuropsychological measures. At that point, she knew she would focus her training on pediatric neuropsychology.
When asked if she incorporates any specific interests, skills, or knowledge into her practice, Dr. Poth responded:
“Essential to neuropsychology is the understanding of ways in which our brains influence behaviors. I always incorporate this knowledge into my clinical practice. Children presenting with similar behavioral or cognitive difficulties will appear different in the clinical setting, meaning that one approach to the neuropsychological evaluation will not work for every child that comes to my office. As such, I take time to build rapport with each patient and note how their brain influences their behavior, whether it be trouble sitting still in the chair, feeling anxious about the tests, or not wanting to follow directions. With a solid understanding of standardized test procedures, I can make modifications for each child given their presentation to ensure the child is comfortable throughout the evaluation while ensuring accurate data collection.”
Dr. Poth approaches patient care from the scientist-practitioner foundation. This means that she starts with an understanding of what research has shown us regarding various illnesses and conditions and the associated clinical implications of those. Building upon this foundation, she appreciates that each patient has individual characteristics, experiences, and backgrounds that will affect how symptoms or neurobehavioral difficulties present. In other words, Dr. Poth begins with understanding the current evidence base and incorporates each patient’s unique presenting factors to identify what contributes to their functional, everyday difficulties. Dr. Poth expressed, “I hope my patients appreciate my scientific understanding coupled with a personal, individualized approach to their care, describing me as knowledgeable, caring, and patient-centered.”
Outside of the office, Dr. Poth and her husband love anything and everything relating to nature, which is part of what drew them to Oregon. They enjoy backpacking, kayaking, and skiing. When they aren’t soaking up the outdoors, they also love to travel, spend time with their pets, and explore local breweries and wineries.
Fellowship
Advanced Neurobehavioral Health of Southern California, San Diego, CA, 2022
Internship
University of California, Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, 2020
Education
PhD, Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program, San Diego, CA, 2020; MS, Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 2016; BS, Psychology, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, 2012
Certification
Licensed Psychologist
