Dr. Christensen received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from UCLA in 2012, after completing a pre-doctoral internship at the UCLA Medical Center/Semel Institute (Child Track). Dr. Christensen then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. Prior to joining the faculty at CSPP/Alliant International University – Los Angeles, Dr. Christensen worked at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (2013-2017) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (2017-2021).
Dr. Christensen has expertise in number of empirically-supported treatments, including but not limited to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A), the Incredible Years (IY) Program and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Christensen has a strong research background in developmental disorders, having published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disability, the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Christensen's interests also include mental health outreach and the application of empirically-supported interventions to underserved populations.
- Developmental Disabilities
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Intellectual Disability
- Comorbidity/Dual Diagnosis
- Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth
- Mindful Awareness
- Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 26014
- Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
- M.A. University of California, Los Angeles
- B.A. University of California, San Diego
Honors
- 2016 UCLA Star Award
- 2014 UCLA Star Award
- 2011 Shepherd Ivory Franz Distinguished Teaching Award
- 2010 Psychology Department Dissertation Year Fellowship
- 2010 Collegium of Undergraduate Teaching Fellows
- 2008 UCLA Graduate Research Mentorship Fellowship
- 2008 National Science Foundation Honorable Mention
- 2007 Faculty Women’s Club Fellowship
- 2007 UCLA Graduate Summer Research Fellowship
- 2006 Faculty Women’s Club Fellowship
- Christensen, L. & Baker, B. (2021). "The Etiology of Oppositional Defiant Disorder for Childrenwith and without Intellectual Disabilities: A Preliminary Analysis." Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disability. 14:1, 50-69.
- Christensen, L., & Baker, B. (2020). "Risk-taking and Delinquent Behaviors among Youth with and without Intellectual Disabilities." Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disability. 13:1, 1-24.
- Neece, C.L. Christensen, L.L., Berkovits, L., & Mayo, D. (2015). "Psychopathology: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Other Conditions Present in Early Childhood." In Matson, J.L & Matson, M.L. (Eds.) Comorbid Conditions in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. New York, NY: Springer Publishers.
- Christensen, L. (2013). Dual Diagnosis: Intellectual Disability and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Dissertation Abstracts.
- Tipton, L.A., Christensen, L. & Blacher, J. (2013). "Friendship Quality in Adolescents with and without an Intellectual Disability." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 26(6), 522-532.
- Christensen, L., & Baker, B. (2013). "Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children with Developmental Delays: Prevalence, Age of Onset and Stability." Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disability. 6(3), 225-244.
- Christensen, L., Fraynt, B., Neece, C. L. & Baker, B.L. (2012). "Bullying Adolescents with Intellectual Disability." Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disability. 5(1), 49-65.
- Blacher, J. & Christensen, L. (2011). "Sowing the Seeds of the Autism Field: Leo Kanner (1943)." Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 49(3), 172-91.
- Christensen, L., Rozga, A., Hutman, T., Young, G., Ozonoff, S., Rogers, S., Baker B., & Sigman, M. (2010). "Play and Developmental Outcomes in Infant Siblings of Children with Autism." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 40(8), 946-957.