Dr. Achilles is experienced in treating behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents, and has specialized training in child abuse treatment.  She works from a developmental-contextual model; that is, conceptualizing the child within their broader family and social context and planning treatment accordingly.  Dr. Achilles’ approach to clinical work is integrative, using play therapy, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness based techniques.  She also provides training to parents on effective discipline and positive parenting.

Dr. Achilles complete her Ph.D. in Psychology in 2003 at the University of New Mexico.  Her post-doctoral training was in public policy related to children with disabilities at the University of Maryland.  She then served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at The Catholic University of America for several years, in the Children, Families & Culture track.  Most recently she has worked at Childhelp, a national nonprofit organization aimed at the prevention and treatment of child abuse.  Her work there has focused on providing assessment and therapy to a culturally diverse clientele, as well as helping to develop and implement a randomized controlled trial comparing cognitive-behavioral to an integrated play therapy/ cognitive-behavioral treatment.  Dr. Achilles is currently the Director of Research Development at Childhelp.