Medico-Legal Experience

Expert Witness Neuropsychologist, Dr Birgit Gurr, has operated a small private practice since 2002, specialising in expert witness work for serious personal injury claims and medical negligence, with a claimant/defendant ratio of about 90:10.

Dr Gurr has provided services for the family court and prison services and participated in Bond Solon Training for Expert Witnesses and British Psychological Society workshops preparing clinical and forensic psychologists for court-related duties.

Clinical Experience

Dr Gurr is a qualified clinical neuropsychologist with expert knowledge in neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation for patients with stroke, brain injury, and other neurological conditions combined with neuropsychological or psychiatric disturbance, including functional disorders.

Her clinical and research interests focus on highly complex conditions and the complex aspects of brain injury and trauma, informed by her work with these patient groups in acute and community neurorehabilitation units and mental health teams at University Hospitals Dorset and Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust. Dr Gurr’s background includes training in neuropsychology, clinical psychology, neurology and psychiatry.

As the clinical lead of the community brain injury service and the adult neuropsychology service in Dorset, Dr Gurr offers training on neuropsychological assessment and intervention across various teams, supporting professionals from medical, therapy and social care backgrounds. Her leadership has substantially transformed and improved the Dorset Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Adult Neuropsychology Services and has influenced development across county-wide NHS systems.

Dr Gurr contributes to clinical psychology training programmes and research projects at the universities of Southampton, Bournemouth and Exeter. She has trained over 200 psychologists at various levels and supervised numerous research projects. She also contributes to the training of medical doctors in clinical neuropsychology and functional neurological disorders.

As a member of the Division of Neuropsychology Policy Unit and representative of the British Psychological Society in the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party, Dr Gurr has contributed to national clinical guidelines and policies.

Dr Gurr uses a range of psychotherapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema-focused Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, Clinical Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Client-Centred Therapy, to support patients with neurological conditions.

Special Interests

Dr Gurr has a strong interest in clinical and applied neuropsychological research. Her scientific, evidence-based and structured approach has been recognised by clinicians and researchers nationally and internationally.

She has a strong clinical and applied research background, with around 40 publications and academic outputs in total, including a book, a psychological test, posters and conference presentations. Her research interests include complex neuropsychological presentations, brain injury, trauma, functional neurological disorders, neurorehabilitation and service development.

Memberships of Professional Bodies

• British Psychological Society – Division of Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Representative of the BPS in the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party
• Division of Neuropsychology – Co-opted member of Policy Unit
• Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)
• Health & Care Professions Council

Further information

Download Dr Gurr’s CV to learn more about her qualifications and experience.