The Friends Program Staff
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD
Dr. Leventhal–Belfer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children with Asperger’s Disorder and their families. She developed and directs The Friends Program and plays an active role in teaching and supervising trainees in the areas of Psychology and Child Psychiatry as well as providing lectures and consultations on this topic to both professionals and parents. Dr. Leventhal–Belfer is the co-author of the recently published book, Asperger’s Syndrome in Young Children: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, and has a private practice in Palo Alto where she sees children with a wide range of issues, including developmental disorders, anxiety problems, mood disorders and children with chronic illnesses and their families. She also conducts evaluations of young children. She is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Stanford in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. You can reach Dr. Leventhal–Belfer at: dr.laurielb@gmail.com.
Alice Locke Chezar, MA, MFT, ATR
Alice is the principal therapist at Palo Alto Parenting Solutions, a specialty practice focusing on therapeutic work with children and families who struggle with behavioral, social and emotional issues. In Alice's words “My passion, working with children and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues, is informed by my personal experience as a parent of special needs children, and my years of professional training and clinical experience."
Hailing from New York where she received her Bachelors Degree from The School of Visual Arts, she later went on to receive her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Specialty in Art Therapy at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area for over 25 years where, along with her husband, she raised two amazing and challenging children. You can reach Alice at: alice@paloaltoparenting.com.
Kayla Huynh, BA, BS
Kayla is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University. Her area of speical interest is neuropsychology. She is on the staff for the Friends Program.
Dr. Leventhal–Belfer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children with Asperger’s Disorder and their families. She developed and directs The Friends Program and plays an active role in teaching and supervising trainees in the areas of Psychology and Child Psychiatry as well as providing lectures and consultations on this topic to both professionals and parents. Dr. Leventhal–Belfer is the co-author of the recently published book, Asperger’s Syndrome in Young Children: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, and has a private practice in Palo Alto where she sees children with a wide range of issues, including developmental disorders, anxiety problems, mood disorders and children with chronic illnesses and their families. She also conducts evaluations of young children. She is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Stanford in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. You can reach Dr. Leventhal–Belfer at: dr.laurielb@gmail.com.
Alice Locke Chezar, MA, MFT, ATR
Alice is the principal therapist at Palo Alto Parenting Solutions, a specialty practice focusing on therapeutic work with children and families who struggle with behavioral, social and emotional issues. In Alice's words “My passion, working with children and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues, is informed by my personal experience as a parent of special needs children, and my years of professional training and clinical experience."
Hailing from New York where she received her Bachelors Degree from The School of Visual Arts, she later went on to receive her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Specialty in Art Therapy at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area for over 25 years where, along with her husband, she raised two amazing and challenging children. You can reach Alice at: alice@paloaltoparenting.com.
Kayla Huynh, BA, BS
Kayla is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University. Her area of speical interest is neuropsychology. She is on the staff for the Friends Program.