Kellie M. Edwards, Ph.D.

Dr. Kellie Edwards is a licensed psychologist with an academic specialty in clinical psychology. She graduated from college with honors, as the outstanding senior in psychology at Western Kentucky University.  She completed her masters and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at Auburn University.  Her doctoral internship was done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, with a primary placement in the Sparks Clinics for childhood neurodevelopmental disabilities and including both inpatient and outpatient rotations through the departments of psychiatry and pediatrics.  She has been at the Behavioral Institute of Atlanta since 1999 and provides services for infants, children, adolescents, young adults in their 20s, and parents.

Dr. Edwards conducts evaluations for ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, anxiety, depression, and other emotional and behavioral difficulties.  She also has a subspecialty in the assessment of autism spectrum and related disorders (autism, Asperger’s Disorder, PDD, communication disorders, sensory problems), including testing with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).  She is trained in developmental assessment for infants and children showing delays due to premature birth, medical complications, or genetic syndromes.  She can evaluate individuals who are nonverbal or have limited language as well as those who are verbally fluent and gifted.  Testing may be done for diagnostic clarification, educational planning and IEP development, treatment planning or evaluation, or to satisfy Medicaid requirements for the Katie Beckett or New Options waivers. 

Dr. Edwards works with parents to manage difficult child behaviors including inflexibility, oppositional/defiant behavior, tantrums/meltdowns, aggression, and self-injury. She uses cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies (CBT) to manage stress, worry, anger, sadness and other social and emotional difficulties for children, adolescents, and young adults.  This structured approach to therapy can be especially helpful for clients who are under stress, feel emotionally overwhelmed, and are in need of guidance.  CBT focuses on the “here-and-now” and is a goal-directed and time-limited therapy.  For children, this type of therapy includes games, activities, talk, instruction, and collaboration with parents and teachers.  For adolescents and adults, therapy is a combination of discussion, instruction, homework, and follow-up. 

Dr. Edwards has been married for twelve years and is also the mother of a child with autism.  She can be contacted directly by email at edwardskm@bellsouth.net or through office voice mail (404) 256-9325, extension 724.