Dear Colleague,

Thank you for your consideration of me participating in the clinical care of your patient. Please scroll through to learn more about my clinical services or feel free to fill in the online referral form below. Alternatively, make contact with me if you’d like to discuss the referral in person.

Referral

To refer a patient, you are welcome to email me at drcjhattingh@gmail.com or complete the form below.

Clinical Services

Diagnostic Neuropsychology

My clinical expertise as a neuropsychologist is deeply rooted in the tradition of behavioural neurology and the hypothetico-deductive approach pioneered by Alexander Luria. This method emphasises the integration of in-depth history-taking, meticulous behavioural observation, and the careful evaluation of neuropsychological functioning during assessment. The clinical question, derived from the patient’s history and interactions with neuropsychological instruments, is central to this approach.

Whenever neuroimaging is available, I review the scans thoroughly, incorporating relevant findings into my diagnostic process. If neuroimaging is not available but deemed necessary, I recommend and coordinate the appropriate studies. The goal is always to integrate these data seamlessly into a cohesive report that informs diagnosis and guides clinical decision-making.

My neuropsychological assessments typically last 2 to 2.5 hours and include a detailed history and cognitive examination. The resulting clinical reports are succinct, providing referring specialists with focused, actionable insights to aid in patient care. This format ensures the delivery of essential information without unnecessary elaboration, maintaining clarity and clinical relevance.

The clinical questions I frequently address include:

• Is there evidence of early-onset neurodegeneration?

• Could this presentation represent an atypical degenerative process?

• Is neuropsychological impairment secondary to pharmacological effects?

• Is the presentation functional rather than neurological in origin?

• How does this stroke affect the patient’s neuropsychological functioning?

• Can this patient safely and effectively return to work?

• Are there chronic neuropsychological sequelae following surgery?

• What are the long-term cognitive effects of this traumatic brain injury?

• How does the level of impairment compare to the patient’s premorbid functioning?

My practice is especially focused on complex cases, including the diagnosis of early and atypical neurodegenerative conditions, cognitive effects of neurological disease or injury, and functional cognitive disturbances.

Psychotherapy

My psychotherapeutic work is grounded in empirical evidence and aims not only at symptom reduction but at resolving the underlying causes of distress. I specialise in long-term individual psychotherapy for adults and older adolescents, with a particular focus on fostering meaningful and lasting change.

My clinical interests include treatment-resistant depression (unipolar and bipolar), somatisation disorders, relational difficulties often within the histrionic spectrum, and individuals struggling with paraphilic behaviours. My approach is both thoughtful and rigorous, drawing from psychoanalytic and other evidence-based frameworks to tailor the treatment process to the unique needs of each patient.