LESLIE COHEN, PHD, BCBA-D
Leslie Cohen, PhD, BCBA-D, is a licensed psychologist who brings a balanced clinical and educational perspective to her work with children, families, schools and clinical teams. For over 18 years, she has been treating clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), anxiety disorders, ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome, ODD, dual diagnosis, learning disabilities and depression. In her consultation to school districts in the United States, Canada and on native reserves, Dr. Cohen works with multi-disciplinary educational teams to embed positive behavior supports and social skills training within the regular school curriculum. In her private practice, she conducts functional behavior assessments, creates treatment plans for families and schools, supervises clinical and front-line staff in behavioral support and intensive early intervention for children with ASD. Dr. Cohen places special emphasis on combining creative, play and leisure-based activities with science-based interventions, such as systematic desensitization, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, social skills acquisition, personal regulation strategies, and increasing resilience, independence and self-reliance.
Dr. Cohen delivers workshops, webinars, and presentations internationally on High-Functioning Autism (HFA), reducing anxiety and depression, increasing resilience, parent-focused problem-solving strategies, structuring and maintaining successful social skills opportunities, reducing meltdowns, supporting physicians in tracking the effects of psychotropic medications, and reducing anxiety at school and school refusal. Working with Autism Ontario, Dr. Cohen co-authored Everyday ABA, a manual on reducing significant behavior problems and increasing functional skills, which continues to be provided free of charge to families and clinicians across the province. Drawing on her extensive experience as a clinician, consultant, and clinical supervisor, Dr. Cohen shares practical, hands-on, proven treatment and intervention strategies in her talks. Dr. Cohen holds a Ph.D., in Psychology from Temple University and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in New York City. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Leslie Cohen is the clinical director and partner of L&A Educational Services, Inc. She has an employment relationship with the Amherst Regional School District. Dr. Cohen receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Leslie Cohen has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.