About Us
Dr. Catherine Hood Judkins and Dr. Dawn Koontz both received their Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Kansas in 2001. The excellence of their university training program has been highlighted by the American Psychological Association as one of the very few Clinical Child Psychology programs to be given full accreditation as a unique subspecialty.
Drs. Judkins’ and Koontz’s training and research during their graduate training focused on empirically supported assessment procedures and intervention strategies with emotionally and behaviorally challenged children, adolescents, and their families. In addition, Drs. Judkins and Koontz specialized in Pediatric Psychology, working with children who have medical needs that require psychological and behavioral interventions as part of their treatment. They are both licensed to practice in the state of Missouri and maintain separate private practices.
Drs. Judkins’ and Koontz’s primary methods of treatment include behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which are both empirically supported types of therapy. Within this framework, children, adolescents, and families are often given homework between sessions to practice the skills they learn in therapy. These therapeutic skills will help fulfill the lifelong goal of using positive coping strategies during times of stress.
Catherine Hood Judkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Judkins is a clinical child and adolescent psychologist who has specialized interests in common childhood behavioral and emotional problems. Dr. Judkins works closely with parents to learn about their child’s unique characteristics with the goal of improving their child’s quality of life and alleviating behavioral and emotional problems. She completed her internship at the University of Florida in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, providing services in the Psychology Clinic, Child Psychiatry Department, and Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Psychology Department at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, MO.
Areas of Specialty
- Anxiety (Separation Anxiety, General Worry, OCD, Panic, Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety)
- Depression
- Behavior Issues (Oppositional Behavior, Temper Tantrums, Preschool Problems, Strong-Willed Behavior)
- ADHD
- Feeding Problems (Picky Eating in Toddlers and Children)
- Medication Compliance (Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, and Problems with Pill Swallowing)
- Parent Education and Training
Dawn Koontz, Ph.D.
Dr. Koontz is a clinical child and adolescent psychologist who works primarily with children, adolescents, and families with a variety of emotional, social, developmental, and behavioral issues. Dr. Koontz works closely with parents, teachers, and other healthcare providers to provide the most comprehensive treatment. Dr. Koontz has experience working in medical settings as well as in schools. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship in the Section of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Pediatrics at the Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, MO.
Areas of Specialty
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Anxiety (Separation Anxiety, Selective Mutism, OCD, Social Anxiety, School Refusal)
- Depression
- Behavior Problems (Temper Tantrums, Oppositional Behavior, Preschool Problems)
- Anger Management
- Grief
- Social Skills Training
- Parent Education and Training
- Medication Compliance (Including Problems with Pill Swallowing)