Bios - Kimel Psychological Services, LLC

Dr. Lila Kimel is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who is the owner of Kimel Psychological Services, LLC.   Dr. Kimel provides assessment and treatment for individuals (with a focus on children and adolescents) with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, and their families. She also provides assessments of learning disabilities, ADHD, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders for children and young adults.

Dr. Kimel received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver. Dr. Kimel completed her Internship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and completed a 2-year Fellowship in Developmental Disabilities at JFK Partners at the University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine.

Prior to starting her private practice Dr. Kimel was a Clinical Instructor at the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic at JFK Partners, within the University of Colorado School of Medicine and worked as a clinical psychologist for Developmental FX, a nonprofit practice, specializing in developmental disabilities. Dr. Kimel’s research studies have involved understanding face recognition in children with autism, neuropsychological profiles of family members of children with autism, and anxiety disorders in children with autism.

Dr. Kimel has worked with children with autism and other developmental disabilities since 1999, while in her undergraduate program at UCSD. Her clinical experiences also include working with children with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, comorbid diagnoses of autism and anxiety disorders, and AD/HD.   Dr. Kimel has training in behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, parent training, and couples counseling. Dr. Kimel has led several social skills and anxiety treatment groups for individuals with developmental disabilities in the community. She currently supervises Ph.D. and Psy.D. psychology graduate students who help her co-lead various social skills groups for individuals with ASD.

In addition to private practice work, Dr. Kimel has worked for the last six years providing psycho-legal consultation in cases related to individuals with developmental disabilities involved in the legal system. Dr. Kimel has also consulted with several schools regarding how to interpret psychological evaluation reports and how to apply them to the individual needs of a child within the school context. Dr. Kimel has presented on a wide range of topics related to developmental disabilities.

Dr. Kimel is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Colorado Psychological Association, the Colorado Neuropsychological Society, the Colorado Assessment Society, and the Developmental Psychobiology Research Group of the University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine. She also recently co-founded an early career psychologist consultation group for professionals treating and assessing children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Kimel is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is fluent in Spanish.  Dr. Kimel currently runs her practice five days a week. When not in the office, Dr. Kimel enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors with her husband, and her three children.

Dr. Caren Rhodes-Doudna is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), licensed by the Colorado Department of Education. She is working on finishing her postdoctoral hours in order to become dually licensed as a school and clinical psychologist. Dr. Rhodes-Doudna received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Spanish from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), and her Ed.S. degree (with an early childhood certification) as well as her Ph.D. in Child Family, and School Psychology from the University of Denver. Dr. Rhodes-Doudna has a certification in pediatric traumatic brain injury consultation through the University of Colorado, Denver and she is an EMDR trained clinician.

Dr. Rhodes-Doudna had an integral role in research at the TEACCH Autism Program and assisted with early intervention home-visits. Dr. Rhodes-Doudna had the opportunity to participate in a year-long Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) externship through JFK Partners at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School. Dr. Rhodes-Doudna helped with several research studies at JFK Partners and collaboratively co-facilitated Facing Your Fears anxiety groups for children with ASD. Dr. Rhodes-Doudna practiced as a school psychologist in a wide variety of educational settings and continues to work as a part-time school psychologist at an expeditionary learning charter school. She is also an adjunct professor in the School Psychology program at the University of Denver. When she is not working, Dr. Rhodes-Doudna enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog hiking and running on local trails.

Dr. Courtney Paisley is a consulting psychologist candidate with Kimel Psychological Services, LLC. She is completing her postdoctoral hours for licensure as a clinical psychologist and is also a Local Expert Advisor for Cogstate. Dr. Paisley has been conducting assessments and providing intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other related developmental disabilities for nearly a decade. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan with a primary focus on children and adolescents. Dr. Paisley also has experience providing assessments and treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults with ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. Additionally, she has worked internationally with families and teachers in England and Switzerland.

Dr. Paisley completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Emory University and a post-baccalaureate fellowship in Translational Developmental Neuroscience at the Yale Child Study Center. She completed her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a child focus at The University of Alabama and completed her Internship in Clinical Psychology at JFK Partners at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She will be begin her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Fall 2022.

During her undergraduate studies, Dr. Paisley provided Applied Behavior Analysis at the Marcus Autism Center, and while at the Yale Child Study Center she was trained in Pivotal Response Treatment. Throughout graduate school and her internship, Dr. Paisley acquired training in cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral therapy, parent management training, and family therapy. Additionally, she has co-facilitated social skills and anxiety groups for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities including Facing Your Fears and PEERS®. Her own research has focused on the involvement of caregivers in intervention practices and the psychological well-being of caregivers with children with autism spectrum disorder. In her free time, Dr. Paisley enjoys traveling, running and hiking in the outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.

Morgan Jolliffe, M.A. is a fourth year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is currently completing her fourth year of externship under the supervision of Dr. Lila Kimel. In her first year she assisted with neurodevelopmental evaluations, and in her second year of externship she is providing psychotherapy to clients. Morgan has also helped to co-lead the Adolescent Girls with ASD Social Skills group at KPS in the past. Morgan holds a Bachelor’s degree from The College of William & Mary and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She previously served as Clinic Coordinator of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic for two years. PEERS® is an evidence-based, parent-assisted, social skills intervention for preschoolers, adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder or other social difficulties. Morgan has experience working with children of all ages with a diverse range of abilities as well as their parents. Morgan also spent two years working at the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology in Los Angeles assisting with neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations. Morgan is eager to further her assessment training and hopes to become a neuropsychologist specializing in developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. In her free time Morgan enjoys hiking, skiing, and playing board games with friends.

Louisa Cahn-Gambino is a third year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is specializing in Perinatal-Age 5 Mental Health. Louisa is currently completing two year-long externships: one at Kimel Psychological Services under the supervision of Dr. Lila Kimel and the other at the Caring for yoU and Baby (CUB) Clinic. Louisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Tulane University and has experience working with children, adults, and families in a variety of settings. Louisa has provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, taught first grade, and worked with families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services. Additionally, she currently co-facilitates PEERS® groups. PEERS® is an evidence-based and parent-assisted social skills intervention for preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other social communication difficulties. Louisa is delighted to be assisting with neurodevelopmental evaluations and to be deepening her understanding of the assessment process while at Kimel Psychological Services.

Sam North, M.A. is a third year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is currently completing her second year of externship under the supervision of Dr. Lila Kimel. Sam obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin Madison in December of 2015. She then spent two years working for a nonprofit called Starkey Hearing Foundation in Minnesota and one year working as a psychiatric associate on an adolescent inpatient unit at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. Sam then obtained her Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology from the University of Denver in June of 2020. During that program Sam worked at Mental Health Partners in disaster preparedness and suicide prevention and at PEERS® providing social skills training to adolescent and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and with other social difficulties. Sam then provided grief therapy to children and their families at Judi's House. In her first year of the doctoral program, Sam continued work at Judi's House. Sam has experience working with children and caregivers in a range of settings, with specific experience working with trauma, suicidality, grief and loss and an additional interest in chronic health issues. Sam is looking forward to expanding into the assessment and evaluation field and hopes to work at a Children's Hospital in the future. During time off, Sam enjoys spending time with her partner and dog Falco, trips to Minnesota to visit family and friends, traveling and reading.

Breanne Kline, M.A. is a third year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is specializing in infant and early childhood mental health. She is currently completing externships at Kimel Psychological Services and at the Early Childhood and Family Center at Aurora Mental Health Center. Breanne earned her Bachelor of Science at Purdue University in 2017, studying Brain and Behavioral Science and Biology. She then worked for a year as a research assistant in the Cognition and Learning Laboratory at Purdue before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Denver. Her previous clinical work includes providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, providing therapy and assessment services for children, adolescents, and families at Dandelion Psychology, LLC., working with caregivers and children ages 0-5 at the Caring for YoU and Baby (CUB) Clinic at DU, and providing therapy and assessment services for children and adults at the Professional Psychology Clinic at DU. In her free time, Breanne enjoys spending time outdoors with her pup, Cleo, reading science fiction and fantasy novels, baking, and dancing. Breanne is looking forward to gaining experience and continuing to learn about neuropsychological and cognitive assessment at Kimel Psychological Services this year.

Madeleine Kelly, M.A. is a second year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is currently completing her first year of externship under the supervision of Dr. Lila Kimel. She also works as a mental health therapist at Ability Counseling, LLC, where she provides treatment to clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a history of sexual offending and/or problematic sexual behavior. Madeleine received her Bachelor of Science in psychology and criminology from the University of Toronto in 2016 and then worked in a residential treatment facility for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. She graduated with her Master's in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver in 2019, and during the program she externed at the Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center and at a treatment agency for domestic violence offenders. She is looking forward to assisting Dr. Kimel with the psycho-legal consultation services she provides and in her free time she enjoys skiing, playing with her cat, and reading.