Staff - The Drake Institute

Medical Director & Staff
The Drake Institute’s diverse treatment team includes caring professionals from a variety of mental health, educational, and medical backgrounds. The Drake team member assigned to individual patients uses neurofeedback to maintain the quality of results we are so proud of. This group works with parents, teacher, siblings and other influential members in the patient’s world to ensure success. They all support and reinforce the new patterns as they emerge from the patient. Each team member has their own significant role.

Medical Director

The Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine and Medical Associates is a medical facility. David F. Velkoff, M.D., our medical director and co-founder, supervises all evaluation procedures and treatment programs. Dr. David Velkoff earned a Masters degree in Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles in 1975. While he earned his Master’s degree he also was working toward his Doctor of Medicine. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1976. Dr. Velkoff completed his postgraduate work on Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine. At this point, he shifted his specialty to Behavioral Medicine and attended Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas to learn biofeedback technology. In 1980, he co-founded the Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine.

Shortly after we began the practice, Dr. Velkoff was the clinical director of an international research study on psychoneuroimmunology. Seeking to better understand the link between illness and the mind, Dr. Velkoff conducted the study with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UCLA Medical School and with Dr. Fernand Dray of the Pasteur Institute in Paris. More recently, Dr. Velkoff was named associated editor of the scientific publication, Journal of Neurotherapy.

The Neurophysical Trainer (NPT)

We choose, train, and certify our NPT’s with the knowledge that they are our first line of care. Because they have important, on the line, responsibilities we pride ourselves on this special team member. They are all very familiar, at a personal level, with the brain patterns you are seeking to strengthen. Their knowledge of training technique and their empathy keep them at your side and supporting your effort every step of the way.

The Program Coordinator

In the world of therapy, never before has timing been more significant with the Drake treatment program. These team members are trained by Drake to make the most of the Full Care concept and to ensure the best overall results. Every time a new step is ready to be made in treatment, it is made by the program coordinator, along with the rest of the clinical team members. They are Drake trained because our program is unique and the elements of synergy present us with better than expected results. Your Program Coordinator will be with you all through care and beyond. They will continue to contact you post care to ensure your integration over time.

The Therapist

Once again, Drake provides our educated and licensed therapists with the orientation programs to best apply the Drake treatment. Our therapy programs operate on the assumption that our patients are neurologically correcting their condition and they will have to learn how to integrate this new information into the family, the classroom and the world in general. In many cases the damage that has been done to the family must be addressed, and there will be certain skill areas that need attention. Drake therapists are aware of the elements that support the best possible results and ready to help you.

The Neuropsychologist

After your initial Drake intake, there are often questions raised about whether the patient’s overall difficulties are solely the result of their present diagnosis, or if there is another deficit impacting their performance. At that time, the neuropsychologist will become part of the clinical team for this individual. Two different types of assessment may be administered, depending on the needs of the patient. They include:

Psychoeducational Assessment: Measures of Intelligence and Achievement are administered. IQ and Academic scores are provided, as well as age and grade levels of current academic performance. An interpretive report documents results, and can be utilized to determine the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the treatment needs of the patient.
Neuropsychological Assessment: Measures of Intelligence, Achievement, Attention, Memory and Learning, Executive Functioning, Language Skills, Sensory Motor Skills, Visual Perceptual and Visual Motor Skills, and Emotional and Behavioral Skills are administered.

A comprehensive interpretive report is provided, determining strengths and weaknesses in neuropsychological functioning. Recommendations are made for treatment, as well as improved functioning in the home and school environments.




	Are you ready to begin care at the Drake Institute? Get Started >> Do you need more information before you begin? Ask Us >> News Videos - Drake Institute is the News View Videos>> Audio FAQ - Learn about ADD from Dr. Velkoff, MD Learn More >> Listen to Radio Interviews with Dr. David Velkoff, MD Listen Now >>		Medical Director & Staff The Drake Institute’s diverse treatment team includes caring professionals from a variety of mental health, educational, and medical backgrounds. The Drake team member assigned to individual patients uses neurofeedback to maintain the quality of results we are so proud of. This group works with parents, teacher, siblings and other influential members in the patient’s world to ensure success. They all support and reinforce the new patterns as they emerge from the patient. Each team member has their own significant role. Medical Director The Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine and Medical Associates is a medical facility. David F. Velkoff, M.D., our medical director and co-founder, supervises all evaluation procedures and treatment programs. Dr. David Velkoff earned a Masters degree in Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles in 1975. While he earned his Master’s degree he also was working toward his Doctor of Medicine. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1976. Dr. Velkoff completed his postgraduate work on Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine. At this point, he shifted his specialty to Behavioral Medicine and attended Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas to learn biofeedback technology. In 1980, he co-founded the Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine. Shortly after we began the practice, Dr. Velkoff was the clinical director of an international research study on psychoneuroimmunology. Seeking to better understand the link between illness and the mind, Dr. Velkoff conducted the study with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UCLA Medical School and with Dr. Fernand Dray of the Pasteur Institute in Paris. More recently, Dr. Velkoff was named associated editor of the scientific publication, Journal of Neurotherapy. The Neurophysical Trainer (NPT) We choose, train, and certify our NPT’s with the knowledge that they are our first line of care. Because they have important, on the line, responsibilities we pride ourselves on this special team member. They are all very familiar, at a personal level, with the brain patterns you are seeking to strengthen. Their knowledge of training technique and their empathy keep them at your side and supporting your effort every step of the way. The Program Coordinator In the world of therapy, never before has timing been more significant with the Drake treatment program. These team members are trained by Drake to make the most of the Full Care concept and to ensure the best overall results. Every time a new step is ready to be made in treatment, it is made by the program coordinator, along with the rest of the clinical team members. They are Drake trained because our program is unique and the elements of synergy present us with better than expected results. Your Program Coordinator will be with you all through care and beyond. They will continue to contact you post care to ensure your integration over time. The Therapist Once again, Drake provides our educated and licensed therapists with the orientation programs to best apply the Drake treatment. Our therapy programs operate on the assumption that our patients are neurologically correcting their condition and they will have to learn how to integrate this new information into the family, the classroom and the world in general. In many cases the damage that has been done to the family must be addressed, and there will be certain skill areas that need attention. Drake therapists are aware of the elements that support the best possible results and ready to help you. The Neuropsychologist After your initial Drake intake, there are often questions raised about whether the patient’s overall difficulties are solely the result of their present diagnosis, or if there is another deficit impacting their performance. At that time, the neuropsychologist will become part of the clinical team for this individual. Two different types of assessment may be administered, depending on the needs of the patient. They include: Psychoeducational Assessment: Measures of Intelligence and Achievement are administered. IQ and Academic scores are provided, as well as age and grade levels of current academic performance. An interpretive report documents results, and can be utilized to determine the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the treatment needs of the patient. Neuropsychological Assessment: Measures of Intelligence, Achievement, Attention, Memory and Learning, Executive Functioning, Language Skills, Sensory Motor Skills, Visual Perceptual and Visual Motor Skills, and Emotional and Behavioral Skills are administered. A comprehensive interpretive report is provided, determining strengths and weaknesses in neuropsychological functioning. Recommendations are made for treatment, as well as improved functioning in the home and school environments.
	ADD/ADHD • Autism • Language Disorders • Stress Disorders Copyright � 2007 - The Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine & Medical Associates