About Dr. Lauren Perez
Focus areas
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Pediatric Anxiety
Play Therapy
Adolescent / Teen Issues
Pediatric Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Young Adult Issues
Parenting Counseling
Pediatric Eating Disorder
Clientele seen
Children (<13)
Individuals
Teenagers (13-17)
Groups
Young adults (18-24)
Families
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Applied Behavioral Analysis
Compassion Focused
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical (DBT)
Identity
Gender
FemaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Lauren Perez
I’m a pediatric psychologist and BCBA with training in both clinical and school psychology. My background spans hospital-based feeding programs, outpatient pediatric clinics, and school settings, which gives me a comprehensive understanding of how children function across environments, not just in an office or at home. That perspective shapes my commitment to careful assessment, clear communication, and developmentally informed care.
When I meet a child or teen, I’m paying close attention to how their nervous system responds to demands, transitions, and uncertainty. I’m looking at what feels effortful, what comes naturally, and how patterns have developed within the family and school systems. My goal is to translate those observations into a plan that is realistic, sustainable, and tailored to that child’s strengths and needs.
My style in session is steady, warm, and direct. I focus on making complex challenges easier to understand and breaking goals into steps that build confidence rather than pressure. I draw from ACT, CBT, mindfulness-based approaches, play-based strategies, and behavioral science, using each flexibly rather than relying on a single model.
What should a new client know about working with you?
When we start working together, my first priority is getting to know you, your personality, what feels hard right now, and what would make daily life feel smoother. Sessions have structure, but they’re flexible enough to meet you where you are that day.
With younger kids, I use a mix of play, curiosity, and gentle guidance to help them feel safe and understood. For teens and young adults, sessions feel more conversational and collaborative; you’ll have space to talk openly, set goals that matter to you, and work at a pace that feels manageable.
Parents can expect steady communication and a clear understanding of how to support progress at home or school. I explain why I’m recommending something, check in often about what’s realistic, and adjust the plan as we learn more.
Across ages, the tone is respectful and grounded. Many families tell me they appreciate that sessions aren’t rushed or overwhelming, and that each person—child, teen, young adult, or parent—feels heard.
My hope is that you leave each session feeling understood, supported, and a little more confident about the path forward.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
My process is collaborative and personalized, whether I am working with a child, teen, or young adult. In the first few sessions, I focus on getting a clear understanding of strengths, stressors, routines, and what feels hardest day to day. That might include talking through school expectations, social or family dynamics, executive functioning demands, anxiety patterns, or feeding challenges.
Sessions are a mix of skill building, problem solving, and helping clients understand their own emotions and habits in a way that feels supportive and not overwhelming. With younger kids, this often includes play-based strategies and modeling flexibility. With teens and young adults, sessions are more conversational and geared toward insight, coping tools, and practical strategies they can use right away.
Caregivers are involved as appropriate so support at home and school stays consistent, while giving older teens and young adults the space to build independence. As treatment progresses, we check in regularly to track what is improving, what still feels sticky, and how to adjust the plan so sessions continue to feel relevant and genuinely helpful.
Dr. Lauren Perez is not in-network with any insurances
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $260 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $230 for 60 minutes
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
More information on payments and coverage
WholeChild Wellness operates as an out-of-network/private pay practice. This model allows us to provide individualized, developmentally informed care, longer appointment times, and meaningful collaboration with caregivers, schools, and medical teams—services that are rarely supported within insurance constraints. We want families to feel fully informed about how payments and coverage work before starting care.
Payment is collected at the time of service, and a card on file is required. For families using insurance with out-of-network benefits, superbills are automatically generated in your patient portal at the end of each month. These superbills include all required documentation for you to submit directly to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Every plan is different, so we encourage checking with your insurance provider to understand your specific out-of-network coverage for psychological or behavioral health services.
We are also approved to accept ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) funds. If you plan to use ESA, please let us know so we can guide you through the documentation and invoicing requirements.
Our goal is to make the administrative side of care clear and manageable so you can stay focused on your child’s progress. If you have questions about fees, ESA billing, or how to use your superbill, we are always happy to help.
Because appointment times are reserved specifically for your family, cancellations under 24 hours and missed appointments may be charged the full session fee. We understand that things come up unexpectedly, and we aim to approach each situation with compassion while maintaining policies that support access for all families seeking care.
If you are unsure about your insurance benefits or need help understanding how monthly superbills work, feel free to reach out—we’re here to support you in navigating the process.
Popular visit reasons
Anxiety Disorder
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
New Patient Visit
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit
Therapy
Women's Mental Health Issues
Young Adult Issues
Anxiety Disorder
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
New Patient Visit
Psychotherapy
Office location
Dr. Lauren Perez, PhD, BCBA also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Board certifications
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Education and training
- The University of Utah, PhD in Psychology
- The University of Utah, MEd in Educational Psychology
- Arizona State University (Bachelor's)
Professional memberships
- American Psychological Association
Awards and publications
- The Science Behind The Healthy Child Guide The Science Behind The Healthy Child Guide Neurological Health FoundationNeurological Health Foundation Adams, J.B., Pollard, E.L., Perez, L.M., Dietert, R.R., Frye, R.E., Green, J.A., … Willhite, C. (February, 2016). The science behind the healthy child guide. Retrieved from https://neurologicalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NHF-Science-Behind-HCG- 040918.pdf
- Seclusion and Restraint as an Emergency Crisis Response. Seclusion and Restraint as an Emergency Crisis Response. Oxford University PressOxford University Press In K.C. Radley & E.H. Dart (Eds). Handbook of Behavioral Interventions in Schools: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
- Components of a Successful Classroom: A factor analysis for initial validation of a measure assessing tier one classroom management Components of a Successful Classroom: A factor analysis for initial validation of a measure assessing tier one classroom management Assessment for Effective InterventionAssessment for Effective Intervention Maldonado, A; Fischer, A. J.; Wright, H; Jensen, R; Coombs, A; Mathis, S; Lundy, K; Hawken, L; Radley, K. C.; Perez, L. (2023). Components of a Successful Classroom: A factor analysis for initial validation of a measure assessing tier one classroom management. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 49(2), 115–119.
NPI number
1184354250
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Lauren Perez?
Generally, Dr. Lauren Perez has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Perez's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Lauren Perez accepting new patients?
Dr. Lauren Perez generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Perez's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Lauren Perez accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Perez is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Lauren Perez online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Perez using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Lauren Perez work with?
Dr. Lauren Perez works with WholeChild Wellness.
Where is Dr. Lauren Perez's office located?
Dr. Lauren Perez has 2 office locations, including in Supai and Scottsdale, view full addresses on Dr. Perez's profile.
Which board certifications does Dr. Lauren Perez have?
Dr. Lauren Perez is certified by Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Lauren Perez?
Dr. Lauren Perez frequently sees patients for Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Lauren Perez on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Lauren Perez speak?
Dr. Lauren Perez speaks English.