A message from Dr. Pontillo:

“ I am so deeply amazed, and proud of what San Diego Kids First (SDKF) has become. From my humble beginnings in my solo private practice in 2005 (right here in the Hacienda building!) -to where we are now (over 12 interdisciplinary specialists and growing!), I can truly say my mission to create a comprehensive, interdisciplinary clinic for children and families has been realized. I have so much admiration and respect for my fellow clinicians here at SDKF. They possess such outstanding talent, skills, and expertise, each bringing their own personalized training, background, professionalism, and expertise to the clients and families we see. Their combined knowledge, commitment, and dedication is what enables us to create a comprehensive, individualized, and impactful care plan for each child, teen, or family in a way that no single provider can. It is why I am so confident that each child, teen and family that walks through our door is welcomed into our family, and can get most, if not all, their needs met in one warm and caring place. It is also why I am committed to continuing this wrap-around approach, so that kids can truly maximize their potential focusing on the development and happiness of the whole child, and family.”

Dr. Pontillo is Owner/Founder and Director of San Diego Kids First (est. 2005) and Co-Founder/Co-Director of San Diego Behavior Solutions (est. 2021). She has over 25 years of education, training and experience in pediatric psychology and is regarded as an expert in the field of child and adolescent development, behavior, and learning.

Dr. Pontillo received her B.A. at the University of British Columbia (UBC), her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and completed a pre-doctoral internship at UCSD. She completed an Early Childhood (0-5y) post-doctoral internship at the Developmental Evaluation Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she continued to work 2 years following her licensure. Subsequently, Dr. Pontillo opened San Diego Kids First in 2005, with the passion of identifying children’s strengths as well as their challenges, enabling them to maximize their developmental potential.

Dr. Pontillo has enjoyed sharing her knowledge and expertise as Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, UCSD and as Clinical Supervisor at Alliant International University. She continues that practice as a conference speaker, presenter, and public figure. She has been interviewed by San DIego Magazine, National Geographic, CBS-8, ABC-10, PBS SoCal, Francis Parker Magazine , and Fox News, and was featured in The San Diego Voyager. Click here for Dr. Pontillo’s media page. She has been a guest expert in several episodes of the Parent Savers Podcast, and has presented to numerous audiences comprised of educators, parents, and clinicians at organizations such as The San Diego Psychological Association, Rady Children’s Hospital Dept of Developmental Pediatrics, UCSD, San Diego Mom’s Blog Cares, The San Diego Diocese, Scripps Pediatrics, Father Joe’s Villages, San Diego Episcopal Community Services, Deep Blue Educators, Beth Am Preschool, the Jewish Community Center Nierman Preschool, A Home Within, various Head Start Preschool organizations and dozens of independent schools in the San Diego area. One of Dr. Pontillo’s most recent panel presentations was for community mental health clinicians sponsored by the San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Children Youth and Families (CYF) Council Training Academy Committee (co-panelists: Dr. Josh Feder, Dr. Bruce Liese, and Chelsea Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP). “ From Loneliness to Connecting and Belonging: I’ll be There” (2024).

Dr. Pontillo also has developed two downloadable video courses. The first is a video parent training course (entitled “Bright Stars”) for parents of highly intelligent children with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder, which condenses the content of 4 – 6 of her individualized one-hour parenting sessions into an affordable downloadable program. The second is the ABCs of ASD, a video course designed for regular education teachers, providing tools and strategies to help their students with Autism Spectrum Disorder be successful in the regular education classroom. This program has been made available to several independent schools and preschools in the San Diego area.

Dr. Pontillo also volunteers her time at A Home Within, an organization committed to providing free therapy services to children and adolescents in the Foster Care System. Dr. Pontillo’s involvement includes providing educational training to volunteer therapists across the United States on evidence-based practices for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD, and the interplay between trauma and neurodivergence.

Dr. Pontillo’s specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD/executive functioning, behavioral challenges, oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD)/ (PDA “pathological demand avoidance”), learning disabilities/differences, anxiety, emotional regulation skills training, social skills training, stress management, giftedness, and other child developmental delays or concerns. She specializes in working with Early Childhood (0-5y), School-Aged Children, and Teens and utilizes CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) and other short-term solution-focused, evidence-based interventions that produce measurable progress. She is an expert in diagnostic assessment, conducts both focused as well as comprehensive batteries, and develops concrete and individualized action plans for each child and family she works with. She provides consultations with schools, teachers, and other professionals and is often relied on as treatment team leader due to her experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Dr. Pontillo additionally consults regularly with all staff clinicians at SDKF to ensure that SDKF families receive the highest quality of care.

Dr. Pontillo lives with her husband, daughter, son, and two pets: our SDKF facility dog, Maple, who sometimes joins Dr. Pontillo in her clinic appointments, and Maple’s younger brother, Moose. Dr. Pontillo speaks Spanish and English and loves sushi and Indian food. When she is not working, she can be found on a 5K run (even though she admits she is as slow as a turtle!), taking long walks with her dogs, or visiting with her family and friends.

**Dr. Pontillo maintains a small caseload, working closely with a very limited number of concierge clients. If you are interested in more information on becoming a concierge client of Dr. Pontillo, please click here.