Karen Chesnutt

Dr. Karen Chesnutt is a developmental psychologist whose private practice focuses on diagnostic work and therapy. She is well known for her ability to explain psychological concepts in ways that are clearly understood and that can be applied in life situations. People have sought out her evaluations because they "make sense." She has worked on interdisciplinary teams to develop plans for students with challenging disabilities. Dr. Chesnutt has a Ph.D. in psychology. She completed her internship...See more

Dr. Karen Chesnutt is a developmental psychologist whose private practice focuses on diagnostic work and therapy. She is well known for her ability to explain psychological concepts in ways that are clearly understood and that can be applied in life situations. People have sought out her evaluations because they "make sense." She has worked on interdisciplinary teams to develop plans for students with challenging disabilities. Dr. Chesnutt has a Ph.D. in psychology. She completed her internship at Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center of Buffalo Women & Children's Hospital. She worked with head-injury patients at the center for several years after that. She also is a licensed teacher in New York State, holding a master's degree in education. Although Dr. Chesnutt's clients include many school age boys, she also works with patients of all ages and those facing difficult diagnostic questions. "I love the variety of challenges my patients present," she says. "I am interested in figuring out what the problems are and finding therapeutic techniques that work in resolving those problems." She has worked as a consultant to other programs, including Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center, Aspire of WNY, numerous school districts, the New York State School for the Blind, and the New York State Education Department. She is the current consulting psychologist at Bornhava, a specialized program for children with developmental disabilities. Dr. Chesnutt has had particular success finding ways to test and treat patients with unusual challenges. "I hate to see someone with strong potential who is unable to use it. I like to identify a problem and then design a program to deal with the diagnosis," Dr. Chesnutt says. She is committed to working with parents and children and has received awards from Parent's Anonymous and the Speech and Hearing Association of Western New York. She started her professional career as a teacher in a small rural district and decided to study psychology when she realized that she was good at working with students that many teachers were ready to give up on. Her work with identifying Syndrome Y and devising a treatment program is a direct outgrowth of her long experience and practical, but compassionate approach to therapy. See less