Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder associated with impairments in social functioning, communication and by restricted and/or repetitive behaviors. Children with mild ASD may be incorrectly labeled as having ADHD, oppositional/defiant disorder, anxiety/fearfulness or simply seen by parents and teachers as being ‘strong-willed’ or ‘stubborn’. The earlier we are able to identify ASD in children, the greater gains we can make in maximizing their developmental potential. A thorough and accurate evaluation incorporating testing, information from parents and teachers, school observations (when appropriate) and in-office assessment is crucial in making a diagnostic determination. Creating an individualized developmental profile of your child’s strengths as well as their weaknesses is much more important than the label itself, as it will enable us to provide you with a tailored action plan that truly promotes your child’s growth.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition which manifests prior to the age of 7. ADHD involves a deficiency in the part of the brain that helps us to sustain focus, concentrate, filter out extraneous information, organize, plan, understand others’ actions, and inhibit impulses. There is currently no established “test” which can conclusively diagnose ADHD, and symptoms of ADHD overlap with those of dozens of other conditions. So, diagnosing ADHD requires a very comprehensive approach. Fortunately, there are very effective treatments for ADHD once a solid diagnosis is made. Children who do not receive proper treatment for ADHD are at risk for a variety of issues in school, friendships, family life and mental health.
School – Academics and Social/Emotional
Starting school is a major transition in a child’s life. And the first several years of school are an early window into academic issues that—left unaddressed—can become major stumbling blocks with repercussions in all areas of life. Common preschool concerns include separation anxiety and behavioral problems, both of which can disrupt academic progress. During the first few years of school, early issues may manifest, giving us the first and best opportunity to intervene with critical support for cognitive, social/emotional and physical development, fine motor skills, behavior and self-direction. In addition, all of these factors and others play into selecting a “best-fit” school for your child.
In addition to addressing these common concerns, we help many children who are experiencing developmental delays or “lags” with respect to milestones such as speech/language development, motor development, potty training, and more.
Anger and Emotion
Learning to tolerate and regulate one’s negative emotions (e.g., frustration, anger, etc.) is a developmental skill that often takes time and practice to master. If your child is exhibiting significant anger outbursts, or appears to “go from 0 to 60” when frustrated, he or she may benefit from learning more sophisticated self-regulation strategies.
Sensory Processing
Sensory Processing Needs refer to how the brain processes and responds to sensory input from the environment, such as sights, sounds, textures, and smells. Individuals with sensory processing challenges may experience heightened or diminished sensitivity to sensory stimuli, which can lead to difficulties with everyday activities. For example, some children may become overwhelmed by bright lights or loud noises, while others may seek out intense sensory experiences like constant movement or touching objects. Sensory processing challenges are often seen in conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These challenges can significantly affect a child’s ability to focus, participate in school, engage socially, and manage emotions.
Sensory processing needs can also show up in behaviors like meltdowns, especially when a child becomes overwhelmed by sensory input they can’t manage. Transitions between activities or environments may be particularly difficult, as changes can increase sensory sensitivity or discomfort. These challenges may not always be obvious to others, making it harder to understand why a child is struggling.
The good news is that with proper support and interventions, children with sensory processing needs can develop coping strategies and thrive in everyday settings. Early intervention and a tailored approach are key to helping children with sensory needs manage their environment and improve their quality of life.
Anxiety
Many children struggle with anxiety. Extreme fear, worry, and anticipatory anxiety can lead children to begin to avoid situations and greatly limit their activities. Anxiety that is left unaddressed can also lead to poor self-esteem, poor self-confidence, and can put a child at greater risk for developing depression in the future. Fortunately, anxiety is one of the most well researched mental health concerns. There are extremely effective short term-treatments, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. This therapy helps the child to change thoughts, beliefs, and ideas about the feared situation. And it creates gradual, systemic changes in behavior to allow the child to better manage the fear.
Certainly, treatments that take into consideration the child’s individual strengths, environment (e.g., family relationships, peer relationships, school setting), temperament, level of insight, motivation, and other factors (e.g., health or other concerns) will be the most effective. In addition, anxiety that is situational or due to a major change in a child’s life (e.g., parental divorce, loss of a family member, transitioning to middle/high school, peer difficulties, coping with medical health issues) will require a less structured approach in order to tailor the therapy to the child’s individual circumstances.
Trauma
Many children experience trauma—both acute, single-event trauma as well as chronic trauma. A traumatic event is one that threatens injury, death, or the physical integrity of self or others and also causes horror, terror, or helplessness at the time it occurs. Almost all children who have experienced trauma experience short-term distress, but can return to normal levels of functioning if they receive proper treatment and support. The quality of the relationships a child has with therapists, family and others in their support networks is fundamental to their recovery.
Eating Disorders
Although more frequently recognized in adolescents and young adults, eating disorders frequently begin in childhood, but go unrecognized, undiagnosed and untreated. Eating disorders include not only anorexia and bulimia, but also many other, lesser known varieties. Disturbed eating behavior can be associated with concerns about weight and shape, but also by disinterest in food, phobic avoidance or avoidance due to the sensations of eating. Effective treatment includes both psychological and dietary components—dietary approaches alone are far less effective.
Family Issues
Children experience and react to any issues within their family. Sometimes the effects go unnoticed until they become more severe and obvious. Sometimes the effects are dramatic and immediately recognized. Sometimes children are seen as bystanders to disruptions in family dynamics, and other times they are seen as the source of the disruptions. But all of these situations point to the fact that children are interconnected with all the members of the family; they experience and participate in all its dynamics. Seemingly disconnected issues or problems experienced by a child are very frequently connected to—and exacerbated by—larger issues within the family. In therapy, the goal is not to assign blame, but to recognize unhelpful patterns of behavior, and replace them with patterns that support the wellbeing of all the members of the family.
What Others Say About Us
Dr. Gamboa is absolutely phenomenal. She’s warm, patient, and so accommodating. She really makes the experience feel so comfortable. My daughter wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Her expertise is top notch and I wouldn’t trust anyone else – truly! Thank you Dr. Gamboa!
I would highly recommend San Diego Kids First. They are caring and knowledgeable and have helped the many clients I have referred to thrive academically and socially.
We have trusted San Diego Kids First with our family for the last five years. I have two neurodivergent children that both received diagnoses and therapy with Dr. Pontillo and Dr. Gamboa. My daughter has an amazing connection with Dr. Pontillo. Through her sessions we were able to help sleep patterns, adjust behaviors, and practice self-love. I appreciate that we can receive holistic care with educational and coaches on the team. We have had Dr. Rivet help us create a household that works well for us, and the Educational Specialist, Ms. Sheri Friedman was able to help my daughter move from well under grade-level to thriving above grade-level in one summer. Sheri was also an incredible advocate for us through the IEP process. This entire team is incredibly knowledgeable, patient and understanding. We are forever grateful that they are in our lives. ADHD and ASD can feel so overwhelming and I couldn’t have done it without Dr. Pontillo and her team.
Dr. Deborah Pontillo and her team are a rare gem in the field of child and adolescent psychology. As the founder of Kids First, she has created a concierge-style, full-service practice that offers truly comprehensive care. From psychological testing and diagnostic evaluations to individual therapy, parent coaching, and school consultations, her team addresses the full range of developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs with an exceptional level of professionalism and warmth.
Dr. Pontillo stands out not only for her clinical expertise, but also for the care and attention she brings to every family she supports. The practice is highly personalized — families are never treated as just a number. She works closely with parents, schools, and other professionals to coordinate care, ensuring that each child receives thoughtful, tailored interventions that evolve with their needs. Kids First is the only practice I recommend in the San Diego area. Dr. Pontillo and her team are trusted, skilled, and truly invested in helping children and families thrive.
I’ve known Dr. Deborah Pontillo for many years and have always been impressed by her deep expertise, professionalism, and dedication to the families she serves. She has over 20 years of experience in the field and also serves on the voluntary faculty at UCSD’s Department of Psychiatry, where she helps train and mentor future clinicians.
Her practice, San Diego Kids First, is an invaluable resource for our community – an interdisciplinary team of professionals focused on the developmental and behavioral health of children and teens. What really stands out is their collaborative approach — the team works closely together to understand each child and family from multiple perspectives, ensuring care that’s thoughtful, coordinated, and comprehensive.
As a colleague, I trust Dr. Pontillo and San Diego Kids First completely and have referred many children, teens, and families to her over the years. I know they will receive outstanding, compassionate, and well-integrated care.
I am so grateful for Dr Pontillo. She is very bright, compassionate and thorough. She helped evaluate my daughters and guide us in the direction to support them the way they needed. I can’t say enough how wonderful she is.
Dr Deborah Pontillo provided us with amazing service for our daughter when a teacher suggested she get evaluated for learning differences. Dr Pontillo’s treated us (my husband and myself as well as our daughter) with empathy, respect and professionalism. She is relatable and down to earth as well as brilliant. We were not prepared for the diagnosis our daughter received yet Dr. Pontillo helped us understand what it meant for us as well as what treatment/therapies were most appropriate. We took her recommendations and trust her so much that, 4 years later, we continue to trust Dr Pontillo with her thoughts and suggestions. We highly recommend Dr Pontillo, would never go anywhere else for pediatric psych evaluations and her services were worth every cent.
Dr. Pontillo is an exceptional, and one-of-a-kind child psychologist. I have referred many children of my patients to Dr. Pontillo and she has always given them the best care and attention. Referring a patient to another professional is a big responsibility. I always look for a colleague who is efficient, professional, experienced and one who is able to come up with a clear diagnosis. I keep referring to Dr. Pontillo because of her expertise, efficiency and especially her warm and caring personality that is extremely necessary when dealing with children. I very highly recommend Deborah Pontillo, Ph.D as a child diagnostician, developmental and behavioral specialist, and therapist.
I highly recommend San Diego Kids First as a resource for your child’s mental health! Their intake process is easy and seamless and they have numerous skilled therapists to choose from to meet your child’s needs. This is my primary place to refer children and families and I have only heard great feedback about this group. I have also seen the positive change that has taken place in my client’s children as a result of getting services from them!
Immersed in a community of families that put their children above all else, I have been lucky to meet and learn from Dr. Pontillo and am proud to call San Diego Kids First the only place I refer. Dr. Pontillo expresses an impassioned energy for being a well-respected leader in child psychology and it’s that energy that I want in a psychologist for my family and friends. Parenting decisions, I have found, require an artful and nimble approach and having the ability to use San Diego Kids First makes me feel at ease among the many uneasy parenting decisions we all must make.
I’ve been referring my patients to Dr. Pontillo for the past several years with the utmost confidence that she will care and understand their developmental needs. Dr. Pontillo always provided them with a balanced and age appropriate intervention to help not only the child but the family as a whole.
I am a general pediatrician with a special interest in ADHD, spending about 20% of my clinical time caring for ADHD patients. I have known Dr Pontillo since 2005 and have an enormous respect for her clinical skills and insights. She is my “go to” psychologist for more complicated developmental issues and for diagnosis of subtle high functioning disabilities. Dr. Pontillo’s interest in her patients and her ability to clearly delineate developmental problems allows parents to move forward with establishing a treatment plan. She is an invaluable resource to the San Diego Pediatric community.
As a clinical psychologist and owner of a company that provides similar services, I truly admire the work that SDKF does in the community. I refer clients to them frequently and with confidence. Dr. Pontillo has built a strong, compassionate, and multidisciplinary team that offers a wide range of services, including psychological testing, social skills groups, in-home therapy, and academic support. SDKF is a true gem in the San Diego community, and their dedication to helping children and families shines through in the quality of the work they do.
They are truly experts and so kind! My son was struggling in middle school, and they supported us through that experience. I love that they offer a full continuum of care for families from parenting, child and teen therapy, as well as support with educational struggles and will work with the schools to help advocate for your child. I highly recommend them!!!