Kati Shepardson, M.A.

Kati Shepardson is an advanced clinical psychology doctoral extern at Konick and Associates. She provides psychotherapy and comprehensive psychological assessment services to clients across the lifespan. Kati is especially passionate about working with neurodivergent individuals and families navigating autism, ADHD, trauma, learning differences, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ identity, and other related concerns.

Kati grew up in the Chicago suburbs and completed her undergraduate education at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, where she studied psychology and sociology. She holds a Master’s degree in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership from Wheaton College and has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector including disaster recovery, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and working with volunteers to address global hunger. She is currently a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Wheaton College, with an emphasis in neuropsychology, having already earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology.

Her clinical training includes conducting neuropsychological assessments in a private practice setting and providing therapy in a community-based setting. Kati primarily works with adolescents and adults, as well as younger children and their families. As a neurodivergent clinician, Kati draws from a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based framework, integrating approaches such as narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, multicultural counseling, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Kati is committed to helping clients uncover their strengths, navigate barriers to thriving, and explore their identities with compassion and clarity. She believes in honoring each person’s unique cultural and contextual background, and affirms that many challenges arise not from brokenness, but from systems not built with neurodivergent individuals in mind.

In addition to her clinical work, Kati serves as the Lead Peer Coach at Wheaton College’s Learning and Accessibility Services and facilitates the college’s Neurodiversity Peer Group. She is also a Teaching Assistant and is on the executive board of the Graduate Psychology Student Association. Her research explores the intersection of autism and trauma in adulthood, and she regularly presents and guest lectures on neurodiversity and neurodevelopmental conditions across the lifespan. Kati is excited to walk alongside clients and families through both therapy and assessment, helping them deepen their self-understanding and identify the tools and accommodations needed to thrive in school, work, and life.

Kati is under the supervision of Dr. Kristen Suing and Dr. Phillipe Kleefield.