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.