As a pediatric psychologist in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, I practice developmental and behavioral psychology. This includes the assessment of toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children and adolescents who have concerns related to developmental disabilities. I assess patients for intellectual, social, adaptive and developmental functioning, as well for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and behavior and attention concerns.
I knew I wanted to pursue child psychology after taking a psychology course during high school. During my undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, in order to obtain some relevant experiences in child psychology, I began doing in-home applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy with a nonverbal child with ASD. This experience moved me in the direction of specializing in developmental disabilities.
In my practice, I believe that the relationship with the patient and their family is key. It’s important to be approachable and genuine with patients and their families. Engaging in shared decision making is also an important part of my approach to patient care.
In my spare time, I enjoy going for walks on the bike trail with my family and our two Labrador retrievers. I also enjoy traveling to new places, reading and coaching volleyball.