Laura Nelson Darling, Ph.D.

Dr. Laura Nelson Darling is a postdoctoral fellow at Boston Child Study Center. She specializes in diagnostic assessment, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and caregiver coaching. She is a Certified PCIT Therapist by PCIT International and is clinically trained in treatment adaptations for anxiety (PCIT-CALM) and selective mutism (PCIT-SM).

Dr. Darling received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Boston University. As a graduate student, she received comprehensive training in the assessment and evidence-based treatment of youth with a wide range of anxiety, mood, and disruptive behavior disorders. She completed predoctoral externships within the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD), Boston Child Study Center (BCSC), and the Pediatric Feeding Clinic at Boston Medical Center (BMC). She completed her predoctoral internship at The Baker Center for Children and Families (formerly Judge Baker Children’s Center) within the Center for Effective Child Therapy and Manville Therapeutic School, where she provided assessment and treatment for youth with significant emotional, neurological, and learning needs. Prior to her graduate training, Dr. Darling worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Boston Children’s Hospital conducting developmental research on autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Darling’s Ph.D. research focused on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based interventions for youth with anxiety and related disorders. Her dissertation centered on the development and evaluation of a novel storybook intervention designed to teach caregivers and young children about anxiety and exposure-based treatment. She has published peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on the evidence-based treatment of pediatric anxiety, depression, and pain.