CogniRoutes

Strengthening weaknesses, maintaining strengths,
forging new neural pathways…


BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAMS:

For children, adolescents, adults, and seniors with identified weaknesses in social skills, emotional
regulation, attention & memory skills, executive function ability, and/or problem solving strategies.

Individual and small group programs, led by trained coaches.  Groups are comprised of individuals of similar
age and needs. There will always be at least one coach for every three group participants, assuring personal
attention, even in groups.

All programs are designed and supervised by Harriet Greenstone, an experienced psychologist specializing in
learning, attention, memory, and social/emotional problems.

Each individual program comprises:
•        an individual 45-minute consultation with Dr. Greenstone,
•        series of eight one-hour sessions, in English or French, scheduled on your own timetable, and
•        a 45-minute feedback +/or planning session with Dr. Greenstone after every eight sessions.

Each group program comprises:
•        an individual 45-minute consultation with Dr. Greenstone,
•        series of eight one-hour weekly sessions, in English or French, and
•        a 45-minute feedback +/or planning session with Dr. Greenstone after every        eight sessions.


HOW IT WORKS:

Every individual is born with a unique set of temperaments, personality traits, and neurological ‘wiring’ which
influences their ability to regulate emotions and develop an effective learning style. Emotions and learning
become a problem when the individual’s wiring is a poor match for their environment and/or for the ways that
they are being taught.

‘Brain plasticity’ is the brain’s ability to grow and change. Until recently, we thought this only happened in
babies and young children. As they learn new things, new connections form between neurons. Now we know
these opportunities for change never stop. As long as we keep learning new things our wiring will keep
growing and changing.


It is never too late to make new neural pathways or to let go of ineffective +/or inappropriate pathways (routes)
and connections.  By directing what new information our brains learn, we can facilitate changes in how we think
and function – by strengthening weaknesses, maintaining strengths, and forging new neural pathways.


A fitness program for the brain is like  a fitness program for the body. Cross-training is important for the brain,
too.  Repetition builds and maintains strengths, but it’s the “newness” of     an exercise that challenges our
brains & bodies, and triggers new growth. There are real, physical changes in the brain every time we learn
something new. An individually designed brain fitness program maintains strong areas and targets other
areas that need strengthening - producing a brain exercise regime that’s as enjoyable      as it is challenging.




OTHER COGNIROUTES SERVICES:


Brain Assessment for adults -


To design an effective individualized brain fitness program, it is mandatory to have a baseline overview of brain
functioning, assessing IQ, attention & memory skills, and executive functioning, as well as a lifestyle and stress
profile. For those who don’t have such an assessment, CogniRoutes provides an assessment service
consisting of 5-6 hourly sessions, including a feedback session and recommendations.


Brain Assessment for children -

Includes an assessment of the skills and functions described above, with the addition of an assessment of the
child’s emotional regulation and social skills – and where necessary, learning profile and academic skills.

If the child already has a recent psychological or psycho-educational evaluation, a complete assessment (10
hourly sessions, plus a feedback session) will not be necessary. However, additional specific tests may be
required if the evaluation is incomplete for purposes of developing an effective intervention plan.


Memory testing -

For seniors & ‘boomers’ who want to establish a baseline, bank that data, and/or monitor their short term
memory performance over time. Periodic follow-up testing is compared to the baseline test to detect (or rule
out) symptoms which may indicate early stages of diseases and disorders like Alzheimers.