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About Dr. Shital


Dr. Shital Gaitonde is a licensed psychologist who

specializes in the evaluation and treatment of

various psychological disorders in infants,

toddlers, and children (0-12 years of age).

Her expertise includes, but is not limited to,

the psychological evaluation and treatment of

infants, toddlers, and children with:


  • Developmental disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and other substances, Developmental delays)
  • Social-Emotional Disorders (Anxiety related disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Tics, and Selective Mutism),
  • Disruptive behavior disorders (ADHD, Emotional regulation issues)​

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She is also an active member of the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA) and serves as the secretary on the GPA's Executive Committee. 


Education


Dr. Shital earned her doctorate (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed a Predoctoral Internship in Developmental Disabilities from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Semel Institute for Neuroscience. She completed her post-doctoral residency at the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome program at Emory School of Medicine, Georgia. 


Treatment Approach

​Dr. Shital uses a comprehensive approach in conducting assessments and therapy. Her diagnostic formulations and treatment planning are informed by reports from informants across multiple settings, findings from current research, and the client’s cultural context. She values diversity and believes that cultural diversity encompasses variations in ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, geographical location, family values, disability, and sexual orientation.


Personal Background


​Dr. Shital is a native of Mumbai, India. She speaks 2 languages (Hindi and Marathi), in addition to, English). Being brought up in an urban collectivist culture in Mumbai, India, she values cultural beliefs within each child's family, as they relate to their community, as a whole. In her free time, Dr. Shital enjoys travelling, cooking, and playing board games with her husband and 2 daughters. 


In an effort to give back to the community, Dr. Shital co-founded Emofit with a local educator and friend, Mrs. Neha Bhatt. Emofit is a discussion platform for people to come together and discuss topics related to wellness, with the goal of promoting emotional fitness. For more information on Emofit, please click here. Also, she co-founded Your Desi Helpline: https://yourdesihelpline.com/


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