Dr. Daniel R. O’Brien is a Pennsylvania Certified School Psychologist with sixteen years of experience in evaluating children and adolescents within the public school setting, as well as alternative educational environments. He received a Masters in Counseling Psychology and school psychologist certification from Immaculata University, and a Doctorate in Education from Widener University, with a specialization in reading processes and reading disorders. He is also certified in the state of Pennsylvania to supervise Pupil Personnel Services within the public school system and has a vast knowledge of special educational supports, related services, programs, and parental rights pertaining to public school children.
His Doctoral Dissertation, entitled, “Distinguishing Between Students With and Without Learning Disabilities: A Comparative Analysis of Cognition, Achievement, Perceptual Skills, Behavior, and Executive Functioning,” was awarded the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Widener University’s School of Human Service Professions. He also served as Treasurer for the Mid-eastern Pennsylvania School Psychologists Association.
Dr. O’Brien’s vast clinical background includes experience in residential treatment facilities, partial hospitalization programs, alternative educational settings, and in providing home-based counseling services . He has also taught graduate courses in educational psychology as an adjunct professor.
Dr. O’Brien specializes in the psycho-educational assessment of children and adolescents, and the diagnosis and educational intervention of learning disabilities, cognitive and memory impairments, information processing weakness, autistic spectrum disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, emotional disturbance, AD/HD, and impairments in executive functioning. Dr. O’Brien has spent the majority of his professional career within the public school system and has a thorough understanding of Individualized Educational Planning (IEP), Chapter 15 Service Plans, parental consultation, and navigating the pros and cons of our current educational system to most effectively address the developmental, social, educational, and emotional needs of children and adolescents. Over the years, Dr. O’Brien has been professionally associated with the American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists, and the Professional Association for Pupil Service Administrators.