Caitlyn Francis, PhD, NCSP, LP, Psychologist in Folsom, California

Dr. Francis understands that emotional challenges, life transitions, and relationship difficulties can feel overwhelming for individuals and families. She has extensive experience supporting individuals with autism, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other neurodevelopmental differences. She also works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment difficulties, and family stressors, including parental separation and divorce. Her approach is warm, structured, collaborative, and individualized, building on each client’s strengths while helping them develop practical skills and confidence to achieve meaningful goals. She takes a child- and family-centered approach, supporting clients and caregivers through important life transitions while promoting long-term emotional well-being.

Dr. Francis is passionate about helping adolescents and emerging adults navigate the transition to greater independence. She supports clients in strengthening executive functioning skills, building self-esteem, developing healthy relationships, and managing the social, academic, and emotional challenges that often arise during adolescence and emerging adulthood. As a certified UCLA PEERS® provider, she incorporates evidence-based social skills interventions to help clients improve communication, strengthen social connections, and increase social confidence. She also enjoys helping clients navigate college, career decisions, changing family dynamics, and identity development as they transition into adulthood.

Dr. Francis is dedicated to supporting parents and families. She helps caregivers navigate challenging behaviors, parenting stress, family conflict, and the evolving parent-child relationship as children mature. Drawing on evidence-based parenting approaches, she partners with caregivers to strengthen communication, increase confidence, and create positive, supportive family environments. She works closely with caregivers to help ensure that skills learned in therapy carry over into daily routines, school settings, and family life. She also enjoys working with adults as they adjust to parenthood and explore how their own experiences, relationships, and family histories influence their parenting.

Dr. Francis also has extensive experience helping families navigate the special education process, including reviewing IEPs and 504 Plans, collaborating with schools, and coordinating care with educators, physicians, and other providers to support students across home, school, and community settings. She helps families understand psychological evaluation results and recommendations and provides consultation regarding next steps and support services.

Dr. Francis completed her APA-accredited doctoral internship at The Help Group and her APA-accredited two-year Clinical Child Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She is a graduate of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program and has specialized training in the Incredible Years® parenting program. Using evidence-based approaches tailored to each client’s needs, she helps children, adolescents, emerging adults, and families build on their strengths, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful goals.

Outside of work, Dr. Francis enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new restaurants, enjoying nature, attending cultural events, and participating in her church community.