Dr. Jennifer Chienwen Kao, PhD — Psychology Evaluator
Clinical psychologist. California Qualified Medical Evaluator in psychology.
Dr. Jennifer Chienwen Kao is a clinical psychologist in solo private practice who provides psychotherapy to adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic health conditions, ADHD and relationship concerns. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, completed her clinical psychology internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Harvard Medical School, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at Stanford University School of Medicine. From 2021 to 2023 she served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, providing psychotherapy in the psychosis, bipolar, Asian/Asian-American, general adult and ADHD clinics. She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Brown University and has co-authored peer-reviewed research on depression, trauma and mental health.
Why attorneys choose Dr. Kao
Dr. Jennifer Chienwen Kao trained and taught at major academic medical centers. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, completed her internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Harvard Medical School and her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. She then served on the Stanford faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor from 2021 to 2023, treating patients in the psychosis, bipolar, Asian/Asian-American, general adult and ADHD clinics.
Her assessment experience is structured and standardized. She has conducted neuropsychological assessments, including the MATRICS battery, and intake evaluations, and as a clinical research assistant at Brown University she administered about 50 SCID structured diagnostic interviews and about 100 Hamilton Depression Rating Scales in NIMH-funded treatment studies. Her clinical work spans OCD, anxiety disorders, depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, ADHD and chronic health conditions, using evidence-based approaches such as CBT and exposure and response prevention.
She has co-authored peer-reviewed research on depression, trauma, suicidal ideation and mental health in incarcerated populations, published in journals including Comprehensive Psychiatry, Archives of Women’s Mental Health, the International Journal of Social Psychiatry and Health & Justice, and she has supervised PsyD practicum students.
Academic clinical training
Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University, with internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Harvard Medical School.
Stanford experience
Postdoctoral fellow and then Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine (2020–2023).
Broad adult caseload
Treats adults with OCD, anxiety disorders, chronic health conditions, ADHD and relationship concerns.
Research background
Co-author of peer-reviewed research on depression, trauma and mental health.
Medical-legal experience
- California Qualified Medical Evaluator — Psychology
- QME, AME and expert witness evaluations through Sound Medical Evaluators
Evaluations Dr. Kao performs
QME
Qualified Medical Evaluations for California workers’ compensation disputes.
AME
Agreed Medical Evaluations when both parties select one examiner.
Expert Witness
Expert witness services in clinical psychology.
Credentials and training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology — Stanford University School of Medicine (2020–2021)
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology — Teachers College, Columbia University (2020)
- Clinical Psychology Internship — Massachusetts Mental Health Center / Harvard Medical School (2018–2019)
- B.S., Neuroscience — Brown University (2012)
- Former Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine (2021–2023)
- Neuropsychological assessment (MATRICS; MAPNET FEP battery) and about 50 SCID interviews and 100 Hamilton Depression Rating Scales in NIMH-funded studies
- Supervised PsyD practicum students, VA Mental Health Clinic (Stanford postdoctoral fellowship)
- Peer-reviewed publications in Comprehensive Psychiatry, Archives of Women’s Mental Health, International Journal of Social Psychiatry and Health & Justice (2013–2020)
Where Dr. Kao evaluates
Dr. Kao’s Approach
Each evaluation begins with a careful review of the complete record and a thorough clinical interview. Dr. Kao explains her findings clearly and bases her opinions on the record, the evaluation and accepted professional literature, with the aim of being fair and impartial to every party, applicant and defense alike.