Kristen Duarte, PhD

I treat diverse undergraduate, graduate, and medical students in the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry College Mental Health Program. This clinic serves students with complex and severe psychiatric presentations. I treat a small caseload in the UC San Diego Child & Teen Program. I primarily provide specialized treatment for OCD spectrum disorders and comorbidities in both clinics. At the core of my therapeutic style, I use a culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed approach with CBT for behavior change (e.g., ERP) and mindfulness/ACT for managing challenging cognitions. I integrate a combination of evidence-based modalities, and supportive therapy into treatment as indicated.

I am trained as a generalist, and specialize in treating OCD in children, adolescents, and young adults. I am comfortable treating individuals with comorbid mental and physical health diagnoses. I have experience treating OCD, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, tic disorders, excoriation disorder, trichotillomania, depressive disorders, ADHD, and individuals with trauma histories. I am passionate about working with diverse populations. I have a new interest in providing specialized care to athletes and the perinatal OCD population. I typically start treatment with a thorough assessment and collaborate with the patient (and family when relevant) to establish treatment goals.

I completed my BA in Psychology at the University of Chicago, my PhD in Clinical Psychology at UCLA, my predoctoral clinical internship at UCLA Semel Institute, and my postdoctoral fellowship at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. My OCD training began in 2015, and I trained with OCD research and treatment experts in my graduate and postdoctoral training. I have been an assessor and therapist for OCD treatment research, and provided psychotherapy for OCD spectrum disorders across outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient levels of care. I am currently engaged in OCD clinical treatment, research, and teaching.

I identify as a cisgender, heterosexual, mixed-ethnicity (Mexican-American and White) woman (she/her pronouns) and was a first-generation college student. I am passionate about using my privilege as a clinical psychologist to help diverse individuals access high-quality mental healthcare. I utilize a cultural humility approach. I have worked with a diverse spectrum of patients (e.g., diversity in ethnicity, acculturation, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, religion) in my training and career in the diverse cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Diego.