Dr. Chok entered the field of neuropsychology as an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania State University where he was a lab assistant for a research group studying the effects of concussions on cognitive performance. The lab research included administering, scoring, and analyzing the cognitive skills of players in the NHL as well as Division I athletes prior to, and following, each head injury sustained.
In graduate school, Dr. Chok investigated the neuropsychology of schizophrenia by evaluating cognitive performance on a battery of tests completed by individuals at-risk for developing schizophrenia. The research was aimed at determining if changes in cognitive functioning prior to the development of a psychotic disorder might help predict eventual onset of psychosis. Early detection methods such as this, hold promise for allowing clinicians to intervene at the earliest stage of the disorder to minimize the impact of psychosis on a person’s functioning.
During his internship year, Dr. Chok completed part of his internship in an inpatient unit for individuals with dementia, administering neuropsychological tests and evaluating performance level to determine prognosis for possible return to a less restrictive level of care. During his two year postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Chok completed neuropsychological evaluations with children and adolescents experiencing significant learning and emotional difficulties.
Dr. Chok worked for Melmark New England from 2008-2013 during which time he conducted neuropsychological evaluations with children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. Evaluations were conducted for a variety of purposes, including establishing a diagnosis of autism or intellectual disability, identifying individual cognitive strengths and limitations to inform the development of educational and behavioral goals, and providing information regarding performance for parents seeking guardianship for their child. Dr. Chok moved back to West Chester in 2013 and served as the Behavioral Neuropsychologist and Senior Director of Clinical Services for Melmark Pennsylvania’s Residential Treatment Facility until 2017. Dr. Chok established his private practice in West Chester, PA in 2014 and continues to provide neuropsychological and outpatient therapy that emphasizes CBT and mindfulness-based approaches.