About Elephant in the room
Elephant In The Room is a thoughtful place that provides individual counselling for adults as well as neuropsychological and diagnostic psychoeducational assessment for people seven years of age and older who are facing cognitive challenges, from learning difficulties and ADHD to wider brain damages occurring later in life.
The idiom Elephant in the room refers to an issue, concern or challenge that may arise in our lives that may affect our personal perceptions, relationships and development. These situations may sometimes be obvious, but may also require more specific support.
The elephant, the largest land animal on the planet, is also among the most diverse creatures in the spectrum of emotional expression; joy, anger, grief, compassion, love. In psychology, the famous psychologist Carl Gustav Jung, speaks of it as the symbol of the Self. Finally, in a more general way the elephant also symbolizes strength, resilience, wisdom, memory, and vitality.
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Thus, the expression detains both keys; it represents the source of an issue, and the strength of the animal to overcome it.
Dr. Louis-Philippe Lafleur is a bilingual (English/French) licensed neuropsychologist practising in British Columbia and Quebec. He obtained his Ph.D. in psychology, specializing in neuropsychology, from the University of Montreal. Dr. Lafleur has considerable experience working with pediatric, adult, and elderly populations in different environments.
Dr. Lafleur has mainly worked in hospital settings, such as the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) and the Montreal Neurological Hospital of McGill (MNH). He has also diversified his practice by serving a pediatric clientele, including working at the Department of Child Psychiatry at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and the Raymond-Dewar Institute in Montreal, a pediatric rehabilitation centre specializing in language and hearing impairments. He has facilitated support groups for parents of children with attention difficulties, with or without ADHD, to offer parental guidance. His multidisciplinary experience has enabled him to develop expertise in psychoeducational assessment and evaluating children and teenagers with a broad range of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and behavioural issues, such as ADHD, dyslexia, language disorders, intellectual disability, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Lafleur values a neurodevelopmental and behavioural approach that emphasizes the psychological and emotional aspects of a person’s attachment, self-esteem, autonomy, and sense of competence, all of which are essential for optimal growth in every child.
Since moving to Vancouver, Dr. Lafleur has worked at the Geriatric Centre at Vancouver Coastal Health, providing care for the elderly with memory issues, mild cognitive impairments, and more severe declines related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Lafleur’s diverse clinical experience has provided him with a comprehensive perspective on the continuity of human development. He can approach each evaluation from different aspects of the individual’s functioning, targeting their strengths and specific needs. Dr. Lafleur’s interest in neuropsychology stems from his desire to provide a better understanding of human development and functioning, which can help individuals and their loved ones deal with daily challenges and reach their full potential. He believes that all individuals, regardless of age, have inherent dignity and worth that should be recognized and respected.
Acknowledging and respecting the challenges people face at different stages of life is essential for creating a just and equitable society and promoting the well-being of individuals.