Paul Stebbins, Ph.D.

Hi, my name is Paul Stebbins; I am a clinical child and adolescent psychologist in private practice in Sherman Oaks and Arcadia, CA. I am part of a group practice of child psychologists called Pediatric and Adolescent Psychology Associates who specialize in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families.

I am devoted to my clinical work with children and adolescents. It is a rewarding, enlightening, and a continual learning experience. Working together, I aim to help children and adolescents, while also supporting the entire family to work as a more effective team. Each visit, we work collaboratively in establishing short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals that are objective, achievable, and measurable. I teach each client to “become his or her own psychologist,” and help them develop a new toolbox of coping strategies. Additionally, teaching them to become active and transformative in their skills learned, having developed healthy ways to problem solve solutions to life’s difficulties and to take ownership for their own change. Ultimately, clients will exhibit resilience and psychological grit to reach their goals.

Services/Approach

Dr. Stebbins’ clinical practice is divided into two main interventions: conducting testing/assessment and psychotherapy. For assessments, Dr. Stebbins uses a comprehensive process to really understand the ‘whole’ individual, to integrate how their learning, academic, attention, memory, social-emotional, behavioral, executive functioning, life experiences, and personality factors into their development and behaviors. Most importantly, then provide findings in a clear and concise direction for future recommendations and intervention. In his therapy approach, Dr. Stebbins utilizes a prescriptive, evidenced-based, and a cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment for most psychological presentations. We work together to develop new coping strategies, to help change maladaptive patterns of thinking, and to develop a practical approach to problem solving. So in turn, seeing that each client can change the way they feel, and to be more effective in their lives. While in combination, Dr. Stebbins will also use interpersonal, developmental, play-based therapy, and expressive approaches when appropriate, which allows him to work at a pace that is most comfortable for them and to be flexible to produce the best treatment outcomes.

Psychological and Educational Testing

• Psychoeducational and neuropsychological testing
• Evaluation/Testing for ADHD
• Evaluation/Testing for giftedness, learning differences, and learning disabilities
• Evaluation/Testing for cognitive/developmental screenings for preschool age youth

Evaluation and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for those with Mood and Anxiety Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder, Suicidal Behaviors, Self-Injury behaviors
• Dysthymia
• Bipolar
• Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, School Refusal, Phobias
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• PTSD/Trauma

Evaluation/ Behavioral Treatment for those with ADHD, behavior acting out, and adjustment problems

Training/Education

Prior to his private practice, Dr. Stebbins completed a 2-year specialized postdoctoral fellowship in Child Clinical/Adolescent Psychology within the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)/University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (at the time, one of only five American Psychological Association (APA)- accredited specialty practice Child Clinical Psychology postdoctoral fellowship programs in the United States). He worked with a particularly vulnerable and underserved youth population in an outpatient clinic and hospital setting, also co-led groups, and conducted numerous psychological assessments. At the same time, he completed the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (CA-LEND) certificate training program and the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Program, funded by the federal Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.

Dr. Stebbins completed his 1-year Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology doctoral residency within the Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Louisville School of Medicine (accredited by American Psychological Association). He worked in a variety of practices. From conducting pediatric emergency psychiatric evaluations in the hospital emergency department; working with outpatient cases in the clinic and children in the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit within the hospital; working the Pediatric Consultation Liaison service within the Children’s Hospital, in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology service, Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Transplant Team, Trauma Service, and Eating/Feeding Disorders; and lastly, he conducted various psychological assessments. Typical assessment referrals included attention deficits, cognitive functioning, learning profile, and social/emotional and behavioral functioning. Other evaluations included pre-transplant evaluations or neurocognitive evaluations referred from the Hem/Onc. team. These assessments were geared to be comprehensive and aid in treatment planning, diagnostic clarification, and psychotherapeutic and medication management.

Dr. Stebbins earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and History, a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, with an additional specialization in Adolescent Development. He has over 16 years of clinical experience, working passionately and exclusively with pediatric and adolescent populations in multiple settings beyond his current in private practice. He has trained and worked in hospitals, emergency rooms, inpatient units, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization and day treatment programs, therapeutic group homes, schools, juvenile court, community health centers, and outpatient clinics. Among his other experiences, he has also held various teaching experiences, most recently while at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he lectured to medical residents on psychological theory, practice, and intervention skills. He has also supervised both master’s level clinicians and pre-doctoral psychology interns.

Dr. Stebbins’ presentations, research, and doctoral work have been centered on the topic of adolescent depression. Specifically, he has explored the vulnerability/risk factors for depression symptoms and behaviors among and unique to adolescent boys and girls. His work focuses on a developmental perspective, while exploring the social-cognitive aspects of self-esteem, adolescent attachment, and social supports interplay with depression symptoms among middle school through high-school populations.

Professional Memberships

• American Psychological Association (APA, full voting member)
• Division 53: Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Division 54: Society of Pediatric Psychology.

Licensure

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (CA: PSY 23408)