Dr. Katie Jankowski is a neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming psychotherapist who provides individual and group therapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and parents/families within the SOAR program. In particular, she supports neurodivergent children, adolescents, and young adults (especially Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety), new parents experiencing postpartum challenges (including postpartum depression and anxiety), and parenting support based in positive parenting and collaborative and proactive solutions. Dr. Jankowski has a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, specializing in social cognitive development, developmental social neuroscience, and Autism. Dr. Jankowski also has a Masters in Clinical Social Work, specializing in children’s mental health. She is a licensed social worker in Maryland and DC. Dr. Jankowski has received specialized clinical training in developmental disorders and behavioral health as a LEND Fellow (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) and as a BHWISE Fellow (Behavioral Health Workforce Integration Service and Education), in addition to clinical training in early childhood intervention through the University of Oregon’s Special Education and Early Intervention program. She has received specialized training in maternal mental health and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

 

Dr. Jankowski embraces a strengths-based, child- and family-centered approach. She utilizes evidence-based techniques from social emotional learning theory, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, play therapy, and self-compassion/mindfulness. Her therapeutic style is warm, empathic, creative, and collaborative. Dr. Jankowski believes therapy should be fun and engaging. As a child therapist, she brings energy and creativity to her sessions, and she adopts a dynamic, activity-based approach that incorporates movement and play. Dr. Jankowski builds on each child’s passions, interests, and strengths to design interventions. For example, if your child loves Sonic the Hedgehog, is passionate about race cars, or is a real science buff, Dr. Jankowski will integrate these interests into therapy. In addition, Dr. Jankowski works collaboratively with children and their parents/guardians to develop therapeutic goals. Dr. Jankowski strongly believes in the importance and strength of families, and thus, offers parents/guardians skills training and support services, based in positive parenting techniques. Dr. Jankowski also greatly enjoys supporting adolescents and young adults as they explore their own neurodivergence.

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Dr. Jankowski has over 10 years of experience working with neurodivergent individuals across a wide age range, including preschoolers, school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Jankowski has worked in mental health clinics, early intervention preschool programs, social skills/"social decoding"groups and camps, sibling support groups, and parent training groups. She has worked at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Medical Center, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Frost School with Sheppard Pratt Health Systems, Early Childhood CARES (Coordination, Assessment, Referral, and Evaluation Services) at the University of Oregon, Take2 Autism Summer Camp, and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

 

Dr. Jankowski is very passionate about perinatal mental health and parent-child attachment. She is a proud member of Postpartum Support International, the DC Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, and the Baltimore Perinatal Mental Health Professional Study Group. She completed Postpartum Support International’s certificate training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and their advanced certificate training in perinatal mental health psychotherapy, in addition to receiving training in CBT for the perinatal period. Dr. Jankowski has a passion for supporting new parents experiencing postpartum challenges, including difficulties adjusting to new parental roles, expectations, and emotions. She has also volunteered with Postpartum Support International, facilitating peer social support groups for parents with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

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Dr. Jankowski has an extensive background as a child development researcher. Her research investigates social cognitive and social emotional development in Autistic and neurotypical children and adolescents, using neuropsychological and brain imaging (fMRI) techniques, including perspective-taking/Theory of Mind, emotion processing, empathy, executive functioning, and self-perceptions. Dr. Jankowski has published over 15 research articles in psychological and neuroscience research journals, including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience; and the Journal for Autism and Developmental Disorders. She has presented her research at over 25 scientific conferences, both nationally and internationally, and she has been awarded several prestigious research grants, including from the National Science Foundation. She is a peer reviewer for numerous scientific research journals, and she has taught college-level courses in child development.

 

In her free time, Dr. Jankowski enjoys hiking with her husband and son, snuggling with her rescue dog and cat, visiting art and culture museums, trying out vegetarian recipes, doing Zumba, reading, and traveling. Although a native to the DC area, Dr. Jankowski has lived in Eugene, Oregon and Kyoto, Japan, which both hold special places in her heart.

 

For her LMSW, Dr. Jankowski is supervised by Nanci Brown, LCSW-C. Her WBMA site supervisor is Dr. Jaclyn Halpern.