Dr. Kaitlin Fondren, Ph.D.
Dr. Kaitlin Fondren, Ph.D. was welcomed to Pediatric Psychological Associates in 2021, first as a postdoctoral fellow, after which she became a full-time staff psychologist working with children and teens throughout the Kentuckiana region. Prior to this, Dr. Fondren completed her pre-doctoral internship in child psychology at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Illinois. During this time, she provided both assessment and therapy services with children, adolescents, and families, including those from underserved populations, who were experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, and behavioral concerns.
Dr. Fondren completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 2021 and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015. During graduate training, she was actively involved in both research and clinical practice. Her clinical experiences included working to conduct psychological assessments for children within a primary care clinic and providing individual and group therapy services at a residential treatment center. Dr. Fondren gained valuable experience working with children, adolescents and their families, experiencing a host of challenges including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Fondren also provided assessments as part of a research project seeking to assess the effectiveness of a trauma-informed after-school program and co-led a social skills group for adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Dr. Fondren has a passion for helping children and adolescents improve their overall functioning by learning new skills and collaborating with parents and other key figures in the child’s life. Her clinical skills are grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy and often include other evidence-based practices such as dialectical behavioral therapy and mindfulness. She seeks to cultivate a collaborative relationship with clients wherein treatment can be tailored to meet individual needs and presenting concerns. Dr. Fondren emphasizes the importance of working with parents, when appropriate, recognizing the need to aid in achieving an optimal fit between a client’s presenting characteristics and their environment.
In addition, Dr. Fondren enjoys conducting thorough psychological assessments to test for conditions such as autism, ADHD, specific learning disorders including dyslexia, as well as a number of other emotional and behavioral difficulties.
