Kari Kempf
PhD, BCBA
In-Person Appointments
(She/Her/Hers)
Kari is a licensed psychologist and board certified behavior analyst. She received her bachelor’s degree from Luther College, and a master’s degree in Educational Measurement and Statistics and PhD in School Psychology from the University of Iowa. Dr. Kempf enjoys working with young children through adolescents.
Dr. Kempf evaluates children and adolescents for questions about neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD), learning disabilities, and other mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression). She provides individual therapy for children, and particularly enjoys parent-mediated therapies and coaching. Her treatment philosophy is based on a client-centered, behavioral perspective and uses modalities including applied behavior analysis (ABA), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral skills training (DBT skills), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She also uses parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), parent management training, and parent-mediated therapy for social communication delays (Project ImPACT) and childhood anxiety disorders (SPACE).
Before joining Meadowlark, Dr. Kempf was a school psychologist at Mississippi Bend and Grant Wood Area Education Agencies (GWAEA). She worked as a building-based school psychologist and a behavior consultant on the GWAEA Challenging Behavior Support Team. As a school psychologist, she was a member of school teams using a multi-tiered system of supports to maximize student outcomes, as well as identify students eligible for special education and target their learning needs. As a behavior consultant, she worked collaboratively with schools within GWAEA to support students, teachers, support staff, and families of children with behavioral challenges. She also provided professional development about behavioral concepts, assessments, and interventions to AEA consultants and school district employees.