Caroline Candy is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Extern at CM Psychology & Developmental Care. She earned her B.A. with Honors and Distinction in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Montclair State University. Her clinical and research interests center on autism and neurodevelopment, with a particular focus on social connection, emotional well-being, and evidence-based intervention across childhood and adolescence.
At Montclair State University, Caroline is a doctoral researcher in the Autism and Neurodevelopment Lab, directed by Erin Kang, Ph.D. The lab integrates developmental neuroscience and clinical science to better understand social functioning and mental health in autistic individuals, including the ways social experiences and individual differences shape behavior, affective processing, and neural development. Caroline’s own research focuses on social pain and rejection sensitivity in autism and how experiences of social rejection may relate to mental health and well-being.
Caroline brings a strong background in developmental neuroscience, clinical research, and assessment. Prior to her doctoral training, she completed a Postbaccalaureate Fellowship in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the National Institute of Mental Health and worked as a Research Assistant in the Translational and Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Across these experiences, she developed expertise in EEG and fMRI methodology as well as neuropsychological assessment.
At CM Psychology & Developmental Care, Caroline works under the supervision of Cynthia Martin, Psy.D., providing comprehensive developmental and diagnostic evaluations, neuropsychological assessment, and direct therapeutic intervention for children and adolescents. Her clinical work incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) alongside evidence-based, autism-specific intervention frameworks, including Unstuck and On Target!, Regulating Together, Project ImPACT, and the PEERS® social skills intervention.
Caroline also brings prior direct clinical experience supporting autistic children and adolescents. At Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., she co-led Unstuck and On Target! intervention groups focused on strengthening executive functioning, cognitive flexibility, planning, and problem-solving. Her training in the intervention included direct training with Lauren Kenworthy, Ph.D., a co-developer and co-author of the Unstuck and On Target! curriculum. Caroline has also provided ABA-based