Karen Levine, PhD

Karen Levine, PhD, is a Developmental Psychologist with over 30 years of experience passionately devoted to improving the well being of children with developmental, social or emotional challenges. Dr. Levine offers individualized assessment and treatment using a relationship-based approach, incorporating playfulness and fun when possible to reduce stress and anxiety. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Boston University (1989), a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (1985) and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brandeis University (1982). Karen provides Diagnostic Assessments including play-based assessments and the ADOS-2 when appropriate, but does not do Neuropsychological testing or IQ testing such as the WPPSI or WISC tests. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Autism Program, the Building Blocks and the Spotlight programs of the Northeast ARC, and former employee of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Cambridge Health Alliance. She developed Behavior Play Therapy, a playbased treatment for children with fears and phobias, and is an ICDL DIR/Floortime Training Leader and Expert DIR® Floortime™ provider. Karen is the recipient of the 2012 Lesley University Autism Hero Award and the 2010 Federation for Children with Special Needs Founders Award, and conducts workshops regionally and nationally.