New Connections Neuropsychology Psychotherapy and Assessment for Adults and Older Adults
Contact Dr. Maryann
Welcome!
I’m Dr. Maryann Kruse Bens, a psychologist based in San Leandro, California. My practice involves comprehensive evaluations of cognitive function, addressing concerns such as memory loss and decisional capacity.
I also work as a therapist, helping people identify and adjust old behavioral patterns, cope with anxiety and life stressors, and adapt to changes that occur with normal aging. I am here to help with compassion, humor, and a boatload of experience.
I work with clients who…
- Are worried about memory loss or decision making skills
- Have concerns about cognitive or functional changes observed in loved ones
- Are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, such as excessive worry and sleeplessness
- Have had their life trajectory changed by someone else’s injury or illness, like a parent or partner diagnosed with dementia
- Are adjusting to changes related to normal aging and life disruptions
The benefits
I help clients literally form new connections—in their brains and in their lives.
This can mean:
- Gaining an understanding of your individual situation and creating a plan to move forward
- Identifying cognitive and emotional strengths and weaknesses
- Engaging in psychotherapy to get “unstuck” and develop new patterns
- Adapting to new life circumstances such as becoming a caregiver, changing roles in the workforce, or the loss of a loved one
- Creating a robust support system and strategies for dealing with new realities after losses
My background
I was working as a financial analyst when a close family member sustained a traumatic brain injury. We were grateful that she made a remarkable recovery, but she had changed. Her medical team focused on the positive, glossing over her subtle but significant impairments. This experience changed all of us. We experienced the confusion, the tension, the not-rightness of life after this kind of trauma. We wished for a guidebook, but there wasn’t one. Instead, we learned to adapt through a series of costly and emotionally draining mistakes. I was driven to understand what was happening to all of us, and wanted to use this experience to help others.
This interest grew into a fascination with neuropsychology, and I decided to entirely change my career. I obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. I worked in a research lab studying cognitive remediation in schizophrenia, and developed a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of cognitive rehabilitation. I learned that adjusting to disability isn’t just a cognitive experience – it is an emotional journey for everyone involved.
As my practice evolved, I found that I was especially interested in and engaged with issues that commonly arise in the aging process, and now specialize in work with adults over the age of 50. I particularly enjoy working with people who are experiencing elevated levels of anxiety and those who have, or are in the process of, withdrawing from benzodiazepines, which were commonly prescribed (and overprescribed) in earlier decades.
I also conduct evaluations for decisional capacity, which can help families determine the correct level of care for their loved ones. This can include a determination of financial, testamentary, and medical decision-making capacity.
I completed predoctoral internship training in neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology at the University of Missouri, followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship with Ronald Ruff, Ph.D., a leading expert in traumatic brain injury.
I believe that healing takes place in the context of a good therapeutic relationship. This is not a "one size fits all" endeavor. Sharing in people's lives, understanding their perspectives and guiding them toward a place of healing, is a privilege that I am grateful for every single day.
Work with me
Does this resonate with you? Do you need a compassionate professional to help you pinpoint what’s happening in your mind or your life and make an effective, accessible plan to move forward? If so, let’s talk.
Email me below to schedule a free, no-obligation 20-minute phone consultation to see if I can help.
Maryann Kruse Bens, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
CA PSY29300 and MI 6301019374
1057 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 214,
San Leandro, CA 94577
510-944-0221
Email Dr. Maryann
