Psychological Matters

Dr. Bruce H. Vermeer, PsyD is a licensed psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychological assessments. He received his postdoctoral training in this specialty area at Pine Rest Christian Hospital’s psychiatric medical unit located at St. Mary Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also worked in Pine Rest’s outpatient department, counseling individuals and couples. Since 2001, Dr. Vermeer has been in private practice where he continues to spend approximately 50 percent of his time completing neuropsychological assessments. His office is located at 2093 Health Drive, Suite 200, Wyoming, Michigan 49519. Kerry: Dr Vermeer, thank you for taking time to describe your specialty area. What is a neuropsychological assessment? Dr. Vermeer: A neuropsychological evaluation is a paper-based examination which provides a current picture or a “snapshot” of an individual’s cognitive functioning. It is like a road map of a person’s mental functioning level. It shows what is working and not wo...

Dane Ver Merris, Ed.D. is a psychologist with many specializations. Currently he is working for the Traumatic Brain Injury Program of Hope Network Rehabilitation Services as a rehabilitation psychologist. He also is an adjunct facility member at Western Michigan University and Calvin College, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. He has had years of both inpatient and outpatient clinical experience and currently chairs the State of Michigan Board of Psychology. Kerry: Dr. Ver Merris, briefly tell me about your specialty. Dr. Ver Merris: Rehabilitation psychology is an area of treatment that helps people adapt to the effects of severe—often catastrophic—injury or illness, such as brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, or loss of limb. The person’s impairments might be physical, cognitive, emotional, or sensory. Because the impairments are usually permanent, this kind of treatment often involves aiding people to rebuild their lives with these persisting disabilities. ...

Let me introduce Kimberly Gleason who is a professional life and executive coach, speaker, author, and owner of the coaching company, Coaching for Life Purpose (soon to be renamed Synergy Coaching Alliance). She graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in psychology. Thereafter she went through professional coach training through the Institute for Life Coach Training , an International Coach Federation-accredited school. She has been featured in Women’s Lifestyle Magazine as an expert in this field and was recently interviewed for Grand Rapids Magazine . Kerry: What is life coaching? Kimberly: Life coaching is a powerful, synergistic partnership between coach and client that propels the client toward overcoming challenges and achieving his or her goals and dreams, both personally and professionally. Similar to a personal trainer, a coach will encourage, brainstorm, strategize, and motivate clients towards their goals, as well as hold them accountable for achieving them. ...

Let me introduce Michelle Muezenmeyer, LLP, who started working with eating disorders 8 years ago as an inpatient psychotherapist at Forest View Psychiatric Hospital . She continued this work when she later joined Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services where she led eating disorder recovery groups and provided specialized individual and family counseling. She currently works as a private practitioner at 5060 Cascade Road, Grand Rapids, Michigan. She can be reached at (616) 454-2911 for appointments or questions. Kerry : “Michelle, thank you for taking time out to answer a few questions. Tell me, what is an eating disorder?” Michelle : “Eating disorders are a group of three serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person’s emotional and physical health. They are: Bulimia Nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa; and Binge-Eating Disorder. People with these conditions use them to ‘numb’ their emotional experiences and to gain a perceived sense of control over their inter...