Kendra Knudsen, PhD
Licensed Psychologist

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over fifteen years of experience in mental health. I completed my doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral training at UCLA, where I received intensive training in evidence-based treatments tailored to the unique needs of individuals, couples, and families.

I specialize in working with infants, children, and their caregivers, as well as with couples. My clinical focus includes supporting families navigating infertility, loss, and adoption, and helping couples move through periods of disconnection, conflict, and relational strain, with particular attention to early relationships, trauma, attachment, and the emotional dynamics within families.

Across my work, I view relationships as central to how people experience change. I collaborate closely with caregivers to support emotional regulation and a lasting sense of safety, and I help couples deepen understanding, build empathy, and shift entrenched patterns of communication.

I also work with adolescents and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and the pressures that often accompany high-achieving environments.

My work integrates several evidence-based approaches adapted to the needs of each client. I am certified in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and completed additional specialization in perinatal and early childhood mental health through the UCLA–LA County DMH Early Childhood Fellowship. I have advanced training in both Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) and Adoption-Specific Treatment (ADAPT), completed directly with the developers of each model.

I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills as clinically appropriate. I am additionally certified in the UCLA PEERS® program.

In addition to my clinical practice, I train and supervise psychology externs at UCLA TIES for Families. I have authored and co-authored publications on evidence-based treatments, treatment engagement, and clinical decision-making, with work appearing in journals including Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and Behaviour Research and Therapy.

You can learn more about my therapeutic approach and the treatments I draw from here.

Values that guide my work

The following principles guide how I approach therapy and the kind of environment I aim to create for the people I work with.

Therapy draws on psychological research and established evidence-based approaches while remaining flexible to each person’s needs. These approaches help people better understand patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships while developing practical ways of responding to life’s challenges.
You can read more about my approach to therapy here. → Approach to Therapy.
Research consistently shows that a strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in meaningful change. I aim to create a space that feels thoughtful, collaborative, and genuine — where people feel understood and able to speak openly about their experiences. Therapy is something we do together, shaped by each person’s goals, feedback, and lived experience.
My practice affirms LGBTQIA+ identities and diverse relationship and family structures, including non-monogamous relationships, polyamorous partnerships, adoptive and resource families, and blended families.
Conversations about intimacy, sexuality, and relationship dynamics are welcomed and approached without judgment.
Cultural identities, histories, and lived experiences shape how people understand themselves and the world, and these perspectives are welcomed and respected in the therapy process.
I value different ways of thinking and experiencing the world and support people in building lives that align with their own goals and strengths.
When working with children, caregivers are actively involved because they play a central role in supporting lasting progress outside of sessions.
The field of psychology continues to evolve, and I regularly pursue advanced training and consultation so that therapy remains thoughtful, responsive, and grounded in current evidence. When helpful, I also collaborate with other professionals — such as psychiatrists, pediatricians, and medical providers — to support coordinated care.

Training & background

Clinical Fellowship and Current Work
In addition to my private practice, I am currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship in infant and early childhood mental health at UCLA TIES for Families, where I provide dyadic therapy and developmental assessment for infants, young children, and their caregivers. This work focuses on families navigating foster care, adoption, trauma, and early developmental challenges, and involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary medical, legal, and community-based teams. I also supervise psychology trainees providing psychotherapy and assessment within this setting.

Doctoral Training and Internship
I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). My clinical internship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior (General Child Track) included training across outpatient, inpatient, and partial hospitalization settings, where I provided evidence-based psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and families experiencing mood disorders, trauma, anxiety, neurodevelopmental conditions, and complex relational difficulties.

Program Development and Community-Based Work
For over a decade, I founded and directed the Creative Minds Project through the Arts and Healing Initiative, developing relational, trauma-informed, social-emotional arts groups that integrate expressive arts and mental health care. The program partnered with several local community mental health and VA-affiliated agencies and served individuals experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. It also involved training clinicians and graduate students in creative arts therapies and clinical psychology programs.

Research and Academic Work
During my doctoral training, I conducted research in the UCLA Child FIRST Lab on childhood mental health, family engagement, and clinical decision-making in the use of evidence-based treatments. In my early career, I also conducted research at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior (Bilder Lab), examining everyday and exceptional creativity, cognition, and psychological functioning across diverse populations.

Undergraduate Education
I received my BA with honors in Psychobiology from UCLA, with a minor in Disability Studies.

Across these roles, my work centers on translating research into thoughtful, individualized care.

A little more
about me

Outside of clinical work, I enjoy hiking around Los Angeles, exploring the coastline, and spending time with my husky, Billie. I also enjoy art-making and designing visual resources that sometimes find their way into therapy.

Billie occasionally joins me at the office and usually spends sessions quietly sleeping nearby. Many people find her calm presence grounding, though a dog-free space is always available for those who prefer it.