San Diego Kids First,

12625 High Bluff Dr #204, San Diego, CA 92130, United States

"We have trusted San Diego Kids First with our family for the last five years. I have two neurodivergent children that both received diagnoses and therapy with Dr. Pontillo and Dr. Gamboa. My daughter has an amazing connection with Dr. Pontillo. Through her sessions we were able to help sleep patterns, adjust behaviors, and practice self-love. I appreciate that we can receive holistic care with educational and coaches on the team. We have had Dr. Rivet help us create a household that works well for us, and the Educational Specialist, Ms. Sheri Friedman was able to help my daughter move from well under grade-level to thriving above grade-level in one summer. Sheri was also an incredible advocate for us through the IEP process. This entire team is incredibly knowledgeable, patient and understanding. We are forever grateful that they are in our lives. ADHD and ASD can feel so overwhelming and I couldn't have done it without Dr. Pontillo and her team."

"I have been in therapy with Kimberly BROWNELL at SD Kids First for the last four years. She has counseled me through many challenges and has taught me about healthy and toxic relationships. She has also educated me about different personalities of people and how to create healthy boundaries. I cannot say enough good things about her. She is a special person who cares about her patients and is wholly committed to their growth and success."

"Dr Deborah Pontillo provided us with amazing service for our daughter when a teacher suggested she get evaluated for learning differences. Dr Pontillo's treated us (my husband and myself as well as our daughter) with empathy, respect and professionalism. She is relatable and down to earth as well as brilliant. We were not prepared for the diagnosis our daughter received yet Dr. Pontillo helped us understand what it meant for us as well as what treatment/therapies were most appropriate. We took her recommendations and trust her so much that, 4 years later, we continue to trust Dr Pontillo with her thoughts and suggestions. We highly recommend Dr Pontillo, would never go anywhere else for pediatric psych evaluations and her services were worth every cent."

"Finding a therapist for your children can be overwhelming. In the beginning the journey felt as if we were walking into the darkness at a time when we felt most vulnerable. We are beyond grateful to have found SDKF and our therapist Kim Brownell. It'd be difficult to list all the different ways in which Kim has positively impacted not only our child’s well being but our family unit as a whole, because there are too many. We deeply admire and respect her as our child’s therapist. She has always been a great source of guidance, resources, a wealth of key information and advice. Her professional qualities only get surpassed by her warmth, humanity, compassion and commitment to her patients' well being, progress and development. She easily gained and has maintained our child's trust throughout very difficult situations. We couldn’t be more grateful for all that she has done. Kim really is a bright light in moments of darkness. She is always generous with her knowledge and her expertise surpasses any expectation. She has helped us see the multidimensional aspects of mental health, and is always adjusting her approach to our child’s needs. She encompasses the best qualities we had hoped for in a therapist: compassion, expertise, kindness. But the list goes on as she is relatable with the kids, warm and approachable. Kim genuinely demonstrates her commitment to help others and her passion for her job. We couldn't be more grateful. Our interactions with the office staff have always been very pleasant and everyone seems committed to provide the best costumer service. Thank you SD Kids First!"

"Truly, I am not sure where we would be without Kimberly Brownell. Kim has been essential to my children's mental well being the last two years. She is exceptional at relating with teens and parents, so caring, thorough in her follow up, and tireless in her dedication to her clients. She is clearly passionate about her job and draws from her extensive expertise to make sure her approach is the right one for the individual client. Highly recommend!"