Hello! I am looking forward to getting to know you. I am Dr. Caren Rhodes-Doudna, a licensed psychologist at Kimel Psychological Services (KPS). I wear various hats at KPS, including evaluator, consultant, supervisor, therapist, and social skills group leader. I conduct evaluations for clients throughout the lifespan, specializing in individualized, client-focused, and data-driven assessments. My assessments are thorough, collaborative, and identity-affirming. I am often known as the psychologist who does a “deep dive” into a person’s lived experiences to understand their strengths and areas of vulnerability better. I also provide individual therapy at KPS for neurodiverse clients and their families. I take a system-based, multi-modal approach to therapy, ensuring clients can truly access therapy. I am flexible, strengths-based, and identity-affirming. I am passionate about all my clients feeling seen, heard, and respected.

 

 

A little about my background: In addition to being a licensed clinical psychologist, I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), licensed by the Colorado Department of Education. I worked in schools for several years as a school psychologist and still consult with schools regularly. I attended undergrad at North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), double majoring in Psychology and Spanish. I earned my Ed.S. degree with an early childhood certification and a Ph.D. in Child, Family, and School Psychology from the University of Denver. Please note that I consciously chose to use identity-first language in my background description below. Here is more information about identity-first versus person-first language.

 

 

My passion for working with neurodiverse individuals started in my junior year at UNC-CH when I worked as a research assistant on several studies at the UNC-CH Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center. I also loved working as a student assistant at the TEACCH Autism Program, helping with many early intervention home visits. As a doctoral student, I participated in a year-long Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) externship through JFK Partners at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School. Following this experience, I assisted with several research studies at JFK Partners and collaboratively co-facilitated Facing Your Fears anxiety groups for autistic children and their families. I also worked as an advanced student clinician conducting neuropsychological screenings for a multi-agency, longitudinal research project through the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver.

 

 

My postdoctoral training occurred at various private practices in the community, including KPS, and with Dr. Robin McEvoy, Developmental Neuropsychologist, further specializing in the autism spectrum and neuropsychological assessment. I am particularly knowledgeable about the female/nonbinary phenotype of the autism spectrum and the wide range of presentations that can be associated with ASD. I also taught as an adjunct professor in the School Psychology program at the University of Denver, supervising Ed.S. interns at the University level in their final year before licensure.

 

 

When I am not working, I am exploring the Colorado Mountains with my husband, walking dogs, and running on the local trails by my house. I am an avid animal lover.