Dr. Katie Gifford is a licensed psychologist who earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland. She worked in Anne Arundel County Public Schools as a School Psychologist for 10 years before transitioning to private practice. During her time as a School Psychologist she specialized in counseling, assessment, consultation, crisis intervention, behavioral interventions, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation. Dr. Gifford also taught as a visiting professor in the University of Maryland School Psychology doctoral program.

Dr. Gifford is trained in a variety of counseling modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Positive Psychology, the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS); and has completed the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Dr. Gifford is also trained in administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) for use in assessment.

She has extensive experience in counseling and assessment of children with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities, Anxiety, and Depression. She has specialized knowledge of the school setting, and how to support academic and social-emotional success for children in Pre-Kindergarten through College. Dr. Gifford uses a collaborative approach in working with families, schools, and community partners to help children realize their potential. Dr. Gifford’s clinical interests include social cognition, neurodiversity, emotion regulation, generalized anxiety, specific phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, and attention concerns.

In her free time, Dr. Gifford enjoys teaching a barre-based exercise class, taking trips with her family to the local beaches, outdoor activities with her young children, and having fun with their family dog, Penny.

Dr. Gifford is based in the Rockville office, sees clients both in-person and virtually, and can be reached at 301-610-7850 or at drgifford@changeanxiety.com.