About Dr. Courtney Duhning
Helping families understand why their child is struggling
Many parents come to me after months or years of wondering why their child is bright, capable, and hardworking — but still struggling in school. Maybe homework takes hours. Maybe reading or writing feels harder than it should. Maybe your child knows the material but falls apart on tests. That gap is exactly why I do this work.
Why I do this work
I saw the gaps firsthand
In my role as a school psychologist, I felt frustrated. I saw many children earn average standardized test scores while still struggling significantly in the classroom. I also saw how school-based evaluations can be limited by time, eligibility rules, and the specific questions schools are required to answer. I wanted to be able to go deeper.
You're not alone
Families often reach out when they are asking:
- ?Why does homework take so long?
- ?Why is reading still so hard, even with extra help?
- ?Why does my child know the material but struggle on tests?
- ?Why is writing so overwhelming?
- ?Is this ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, executive functioning, or something else?
- ?Why did the school say everything was average when my child is clearly struggling?
- ?What supports, accommodations, or interventions does my child actually need?
- ?How do I explain what’s going on to teachers and the school team?
These are the kinds of questions a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is meant to answer.
My approach
Clear, thoughtful, and practical
I believe families deserve more than a list of scores. A strong evaluation should explain your child in a way that feels accurate, useful, and human. I look closely at your child's learning, attention, executive functioning, emotional functioning, processing speed, memory, language, reading, writing, math, and real-world school performance.
For some children, the concern may involve dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, anxiety, or executive functioning challenges. For others, the picture is more complicated, and families are looking for diagnostic clarity after years of mixed feedback.
The outcome
After the evaluation, families walk away with:
A clear understanding of their child’s learning profile
Language to explain their child’s needs to teachers and providers
Specific recommendations for school supports and accommodations
Clarity around ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or executive functioning
A practical plan for what to do next
Confidence walking into the next school meeting
School-savvy & clinically deep
My background as a school psychologist means I understand CSE and 504 meetings, school-based testing, eligibility decisions, and why some children fall through the cracks even when they are clearly struggling.
My training as a pediatric neuropsychologist lets me look more deeply at the cognitive, academic, emotional, and executive-functioning factors affecting your child. Together, these perspectives help me create evaluations that are clinically meaningful, school-relevant, and practical for families.
I understand how schools actually make decisions
Credentials & training
Qualified, certified, and board-recognized
- ✓St. John's University
- ✓NYS Licensed Psychologist
- ✓Board-Certified School Neuropsychologist (ABSNP)
- ✓Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
- ✓Verified by Psychology Today
Most importantly
Your child should feel better and understood
Many children have spent years believing they are lazy, careless, or not trying hard enough. When they understand how their brain works, it can reduce shame and help them build confidence. For many families, the evaluation also helps clarify whether their child may benefit from a 504 Plan, an IEP, school-based intervention, tutoring, therapy, or other supports.
What it's like to work together
Reaching out can feel like a big step. My job is to make it clear.
We begin with a consultation to understand your concerns and decide whether an evaluation is the right next step. From there, I guide you through every stage — you won't be left trying to interpret confusing scores on your own.
Consultation
We talk through your concerns and the questions you want answered, and decide whether an evaluation is the right next step.
Intake
A structured intake gathers developmental, medical, educational, social, and family history.
Testing sessions
In-person sessions assess how your child thinks, learns, and processes information.
Feedback meeting
We meet to review the findings together, in plain language — no confusing score sheets.
Final report
You receive a clear written report with specific, practical recommendations for school and home.
If something feels off, it’s okay to trust that instinct.
You don’t need to wait until your child is failing to seek answers. Many children who need support are still earning decent grades and holding it together at school — while working much harder than anyone realizes.
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