Dr. Catalina Perez Staff Clinical Psychologist at the Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill
Dr. Catalina Perez is a licensed clinical psychologist in Washington, D.C. She is a fully-bilingual provider and offers services in English and Spanish. Dr. Perez obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at The Catholic University of America (CUA), with a concentration in Children, Families, and Cultures. While in graduate school, she trained at the Child Development Program, Pain Medicine Clinic, and the Division of Neuropsychology at Children’s National Main Hospital. She also received specialized training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and treated young adults at CUA’s Counseling Center.
Dr. Perez completed a pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship in Chicago at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, affiliated with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. During her internship year, Dr. Perez offered outpatient therapy services through the Mood and Anxiety Program, the Right Start Clinic (early childhood), the Trauma Clinic, and worked with youth with chronic medical conditions. She co-facilitated a child anxiety therapy group and a parent group for young children with disruptive behavior. Dr. Perez also conducted risk-assessments and provided intensive care to high-risk patients.
Upon graduation, Dr. Perez returned to Children’s National Main Hospital and completed a post-doctorate fellowship in Pediatric Primary Care where she provided consultation and therapy to patients ages 0 to 22, and closely collaborated with pediatricians. During her fellowship year, Dr. Perez worked with patients presenting with ADHD, disruptive behavior, anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, self-injurious behavior, sleep difficulties, picky eating, toileting problems, learning and developmental delays, chronic pain, and issues related to medical adjustment and adherence. She also provided services to adolescent mothers with perinatal and postpartum anxiety and depression.
Overall, Dr. Perez has a wide range of experience working with children, adolescents and their families. Dr. Perez also enjoys working with adults, especially during important transitional stages in their lives. At the Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill, Dr. Perez treats a range of anxiety disorder, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, and common childhood behavioral difficulties. She employs evidence-based cognitive and behavioral interventions, such as Behavioral Activation, Exposure and Response Prevention, and Parent Management Training. Dr. Perez is a firm advocate of early and preventative intervention and enjoys collaborating with local and international providers to expand access to behavior health services.
“I am a strong believer in family-centered care; caregivers are one of the most important agents of change for children. I strive to acknowledge, understand and respect your family’s cultural beliefs and values, so that together, we may agree on the best interventions that will set your child up for success and align with your family’s practices. I truly hope that through the therapeutic process, you and your child will find greater calmness, balance, meaning, and fulfillment in your daily life.”
