Hello and welcome! My name is Dr. Richard Laurent, and I am a clinical psychologist. I specialize in neuropsychology, which is the study of the relationship between brain health, cognitive functioning, and psychological well-being. Each of these elements can be affected by various life stressors, health conditions, and situational demands. In my clinical work, I help people sort through these complicated parts of life to find a healthy, productive path through these challenges.

Pronouns: he/his

My Background

I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University. I completed my predoctoral internship at the Vanderbilt University – Tennessee Valley VA consortium. I also completed a two-year neuropsychology fellowship at the University of Iowa in the Benton Neuropsychology Laboratory.

As a neuropsychologist, I have spent most of my professional time in large medical center settings. After leaving Iowa, I joined the Neurosciences division of OhioHealth at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, OH. I worked with many patients as well as their families and caregivers during the course of my work providing neuropsychological evaluations, and a big part of my job involved talking through all the ways in which emotional difficulties and neurological disorders go hand-in-hand. I have also enjoyed being able to speak with members of the community through outreach events centered on caregiver support and identifying warning signs of cognitive decline. The course of my professional life led me back to Middle Tennessee, where I work as a neuropsychologist at the Tennessee Valley VA health care system.

When I’m not working as a neuropsychologist at the VA, I enjoy working part-time as a psychotherapist at Generations Psychological and Consultation Services.

My Approach & Philosophy

I firmly believe that my clients are experts on themselves. My role is simply to help people identify and process all the things that might interfere with good cognitive and emotional health by listening carefully, communicating observations, fostering insight, and facilitating discussions on ambivalence to change. This is a collaborative process that requires considerable work and practice on the part of the client, and to help guide them in this endeavor, I employ an eclectic approach which draws techniques and theories from cognitive-behavioral therapies, interpersonal therapy, existential psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness.