Professional Staff

Pat Sharp, Ph.D.
Licensed Board Certified Mental Health Counselor Director
Neuroeducation began in 1978 with Dr. Sharp’s vision of a clinic providing services for children and adults with challenges in learning or behavior. She named it Neuroeducation to stress the important connection between developmental brain processes (neuro), and learning (education). She envisioned that everyone, regardless of IQ or disability, would be able to learn. They needed to be able to learn in a way that matched how they best perceived and processed information.

Dr. Sharp began her professional career as a teacher-trainer in the Peace Corps. Upon returning to the States she was a teacher, and in 7 years had taught from first grade through junior high in the Seattle area. She received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1972 from the University of Washington, with an emphasis on reading disabilities. In 1982, she completed her doctoral degree in Education at Washington State University, focusing on neuropsychological applications to learning disorders. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in learning and human development at Whitworth College, Eastern Washington University, and Gonzaga University. She has published a children’s book called, Brain Power: Secrets of a Winning Team.

Dr. Sharp has guided and developed Neuroeducation from an individual practice to a broad-based clinic, staffed with caring and professional psychologists and counselors who each bring their own specialties and abilities to the diagnosis and treatment of learning and emotional difficulties.

Roberta Truscott, RN, BSN, BCIAC
Certified Biofeedback Provider
Roberta is a licensed registered nurse with over 30 years of experience in medical and mental health fields. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing form Montana State University in 1973 and obtained national certification in biofeedback in 1988. Currently she is working on a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Loyola University. Roberta has been in private practice in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho since 1985 providing biofeedback services for clients experiencing anxiety and panic, headaches, chronic pain, and stress related symptoms. She joined Neuroeducation in 2001 and now incorporates neurofeedback to treat additional symptoms, including attention and/or hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, and learning difficulties. Roberta believes that within each person are unique gifts so she uses the tools of biofeedback and neurofeedback to assist each client in discovering these special qualities.

Jon E. Christensen, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Christensen received his Ph.D. from California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, California. He completed a pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship while he was on active duty in the U.S. Army at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. He is the father of two children. Dr. Christensen has extensive experience working with and helping children, adolescents, parents and adults who present with behavioral, emotional, learning, and/or social difficulties. He is knowledgeable and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, parenting skills for non-compliant behavior, family/peer relationship problems, depression/mood difficulties, anxiety/fears, adjusting to life circumstances (e.g. divorce), elimination problems (e.g. bedwetting), chronic illnesses (e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome), and neuropsychological evaluations (e.g. brain-behavior relationships) and learning differences (e.g. the inconvenience of learning disabilities and how to overcome them). He has a firm belief that treatment should provide long-term improvements that will help the individual and/or significant others lead a more enjoyable life.
Natalie Krenz, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Krenz received her Psy.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed an inpatient adolescent Postdoctoral Fellowship at Citrus Health Network in Miami, Florida. She has been married to her husband since 2003. Dr. Krenz has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient, who present with behavioral, emotional, learning, and/or interpersonal difficulties. She is experienced and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with the following: learning difficulties, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, parenting skills for behavioral problems, anxiety difficulties, depression/mood disorders, long-term trauma and single incident trauma, and interpersonal difficulties. Dr. Krenz has a solid belief that all individuals have the potential for happiness and assists them in gaining the tools they need to make their lives more fulfilling and achieve their aspirations.
Katherine McHugh, M.A.
The Learning Clinic, Master Teacher
An experienced teacher with 30 years of teaching, Kathleen has an extensive background working with children and adults. Kathleen received her Master’s Degree in Teaching from Whitworth College in Spokane. With an abiding commitment to students of all abilities and strengths, she has taught many Special Needs and Gifted/Talented students; as a specialist in English and communications skills, her classroom experience includes the teaching of numerous Study Skills, Reading, Spelling, Writing, Editing, Grammar, Drama, Speech, and Journalism courses. Kathleen was a co-founder of the Eastern Washington Natural Helpers Program, as well as a charter member of the DPMS Student-at-Risk Program and the co-author of a Writing-Across-the-Curriculum manual for teachers. She has been a Student-Teacher advisor, a Young Writer’s Conference advisor, and an Inland Empire Spelling Bee judge. Long interested in Art and its learning applications, Kathleen also developed and instituted a comprehensive Art program for a local Middle School.

Vivian Nielsen, MA.Ed.
The Learning Clinic, Lead Tutor
Vivian has served as a special education teacher and administrator in elementary, middle, high school and higher learning institutions. Vivian has served students for 20 plus years in public and private schools. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in education with a focus in special education and a minor in math from Eastern University. She then went on to acquire a master’s degree in education with an administrative certificate from Whitworth University. She has continued her education by attending doctoral level classes and serves as a consultant for Women Farmers and entrepreneurs. Vivian has experience teaching to the various stages of cognitive development and the application of alternative teaching strategies to accommodate different learning styles. She has advanced training in ADD and ADHD. Vivian’s passion involves working with families, teachers, mentors as a team to work so that her clients reach their full potential.
Erin Newberry, M.Ed.
The Learning Clinic, Tutor
A charismatic educator with five years of teaching in a variety of demographic settings, Erin’s greatest desire is to see young people motivated by learning. She excels at student-teacher relationships, and believes that this relationship is key to the learning process. Erin received her Masters Degree in Education from Portland State University with a special emphasis in Middle Level Best Practice and Secondary Language Arts. She has taught at both the middle and high school levels, and has also tutored students from kindergarten to 12th grade. She has served as a Department Head for the Gifted, and served for four years in a Special Education Immersion classroom. In addition to teaching in the public education classroom, she was the founder of the Desert Spirit Middle School Student Leadership Team and served as its advisor for three years. She is a co-founder of Catalyst Project, a non-profit organization providing educational and experiential learning opportunities for at-risk youth in Spokane.

John Gjendem.
The Learning Clinic, Math Tutor
John is a very enthusiastic Math and Science tutor who is diligently pursuing a degree and career in Civil Engineering. He understands the importance of education and incorporates the applications of the material into his lesson plans. “I love it when students ask me why they need to know what I’m teaching them because it’s a terrific opportunity for me to change the student’s attitude from ‘I have to do my homework’ to ‘I want to do my homework.’” John has tutored all levels of math from addition and subtraction to calculus. He is also trained in tutoring math anxiety, note-taking and test-taking. In addition to his enthusiasm, John’s patience, creativity and professionalism make him a wonderful asset to the team.