Neuropsychological Clarity, Delivered with Compassion

Dr. Melissa Bunner is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with more than 25 years of experience helping children, young adults, and families better understand cognitive, learning, and behavioral functioning. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and has practiced in Austin throughout her professional career, having been licensed as a psychologist since 1999. She holds board certification in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), reflecting advanced training and demonstrated expertise in the specialty. As co-founder of Neuropsychology Specialists of Austin, she provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, with particular expertise in ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, autism spectrum, and other neurological disorders. She has extensive experience evaluating individuals with complex or overlapping developmental, learning, neurological, and emotional concerns, helping families better understand the factors contributing to their child's difficulties.

Dr. Bunner believes that a neuropsychological evaluation should provide more than a diagnosis. Her approach focuses on identifying each individual's unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses, helping families understand how those findings relate to everyday functioning, and developing practical, individualized recommendations. She strives to make the assessment process collaborative and informative, giving families greater clarity and confidence as they make decisions about treatment, education, and support. Over the course of her career, Dr. Bunner has developed longstanding professional relationships with physicians, educators, and other specialists who share her commitment to supporting children and families.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Bunner is involved in professional education and training. She supervises doctoral-level graduate students in neuropsychology and collaborates with students on selected research projects. She has presented at local, national, and international professional conferences and is involved in professional and charitable organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

Outside of her practice, Dr. Bunner enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and granddaughter, as well as her doodle and two rescue cats. She loves reading, traveling, and attending sporting events, particularly when cheering on the Texas Longhorns and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. She also enjoys giving back to the Austin community through her volunteer work with The Settlement Home for Children.

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Dr. Stephanie Paulos is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with subspecialty board certification in pediatric neuropsychology. She specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults with learning, attention, executive functioning, developmental, and emotional-behavioral challenges. She also conducts evaluations to identify intellectual giftedness and better understand the unique cognitive and educational needs of gifted and twice-exceptional learners.

Her clinical expertise encompasses a broad range of neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions, including ADHD, learning disorders, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and genetic disorders. She also works with individuals with complex medical and neurological histories, helping families better understand how these conditions affect cognitive, academic, emotional, and everyday functioning.

Dr. Paulos believes that a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation should do more than establish a diagnosis. Her approach emphasizes identifying each individual's unique pattern of cognitive strengths and challenges and translating those findings into meaningful, practical recommendations. She is committed to helping patients and families gain a deeper understanding of their needs, navigate educational and treatment decisions, and develop strategies that promote independence, confidence, and long-term success.

Recognizing the important role of educational support in a child's development, Dr. Paulos also provides school advocacy services to help families navigate the educational system and secure appropriate accommodations, interventions, and services. At the request of parents, she participates in ARD/IEP and Section 504 meetings, offering professional insight into a child's cognitive and learning profile and helping educational teams develop individualized plans that support academic and personal success. She values collaboration with educators, physicians, therapists, and other professionals to promote continuity of care across settings.

Dr. Paulos earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her predoctoral internship and two-year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She holds board certification in both Clinical Neuropsychology and the subspecialty of Pediatric Neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), a distinction reflecting advanced training, clinical expertise, and rigorous professional examination.

In addition to her private practice, Dr. Paulos supervises doctoral students in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and provides cognitive rehabilitation services to individuals recovering from acquired brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Her rehabilitation experience offers a valuable perspective on how neuropsychological findings translate into real-world functioning and effective intervention.

Dr. Paulos is a longstanding member of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN), National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), and Austin Neuropsychological Society.

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