~ Learn more about The Friends Program (2023-2024) ~

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​Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in taking a developmental perspective in understanding children, adolescents, adults, and their families as they grapple with daily stresses, medical and mental health issues, challenges adapting to school, interacting with colleagues at work, and making friends.

Dr. Leventhal-Belfer, known as Dr. Laurie to many children and their parents, has a private practice in Palo Alto. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. In addition, she is the founder and director of The Friends Program, a therapeutic group program for young children with high-functioning Autism/Asperger's and their parents. Dr. Leventhal-Belfer has developed and taught many professional training courses and has written several books and articles in her areas of expertise.

Exciting News! 
Dr. Laurie's new book, "College on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's Guide to Students' Mental Health and Wellbeing", is available to purchase online.

Dr. Laurie can help you if:

Your child:

• have trouble making friends?
• frequently seem flooded with emotions?
• become the center of every conversation that you have with your partner?
• seemed to have been bullied?
• have habits that dominate his/her life?
• seem overwhelmed by fears?
• feeling like anxiety is impacting your daily functioning?
• have a difficult time adjusting to changes in your family?
• have a difficult time adjusting to medical issues?

You or your partner:

• have difficulty engaging in social conversations not related to your (or their) areas of interest?
• have trouble reading others' social cues, understanding how they feel?
• avoid engaging in social interactions with colleagues pertaining to topics not related to the work?
• have an area of interest that you (or they) think about in all of your (or their) free time?
• spend very little time together talking about your (or their) day or engaging in mutually satisfying activities together?