Specializing in Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Other Child and Adolescent Needs for Brevard County
Welcome to Cocoa Beach Child Psychology, LLC, conveniently located at 166 Center St., suite 231 in Cape Canaveral, behind the Wizard of Oz Museum. Our practice specializes in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disorders for children and adolescents ranging from birth through 17 years of age (ages 18-20 taken on a case-by-case basis). We use evidence-based psychological testing and therapy and tailor our approach to best meet the needs of your child and family. All services are provided by our doctoral-level psychologist, Dr. Pawich. Our mission is to help our clients accomplish these goals in a compassionate and efficient way.
We aim to educate our families in a safe environment from a place of compassion and respect for your child’s neurodiversity. We traditionally serve clients in Brevard County and Indian River Counties. Dr. Pawich is proud to work with our wonderful military families in the area. We also offer telehealth services for ongoing therapy clients and intakes for new client assessments for your convenience.
Dr. Tamara Pawich, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Dr. Tamara Pawich is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Florida and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). With over 15 years of experience working with autistic individuals (ASD) and other childhood neuro-divergent conditions (e.g., Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], learning struggles, behavior problems, and anxiety), Dr. Pawich brings her expertise in psychological testing and therapy services to the families of Brevard County.
Dr. Pawich earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Florida and her master’s degree and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Michigan University. She completed her psychology residency and postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, further specializing in the assessment and treatment of ASD. Dr. Pawich was a staff psychologist at The Scott Center for Autism Treatment at Florida Tech in the Pediatric Diagnostic Clinic and Early Intervention programs from 2013 to 2019.
Dr. Pawich has published research on clinical interventions for autistic children in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She served on the editorial board for the consultation section of the scientific journal Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice.
Selected Publications:
Peterson, S. P., Rodriguez, N. M., & Pawich, T. (early view, 2018). Effects of modeling rote versus varied responses on response variability and skill acquisition during discrete-trial instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Fisher, W. W., Pawich, T. L., Paden, A., Dickes, N., & Toussaint, K. (2014). Increasing the saliency of behavior-consequence relations for children with autism who exhibit persistent errors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47(4), 738-748.
Lexie Tillman
Lexie is a first-year doctoral student enrolled in Florida Institute of Technology's clinical psychology program. She is currently working collaboratively alongside a psychology research team in exploring the impacts of divorce, remarriage, and parental conflict on the social well-being of young adults. Lexie is a proud Puerto Rican American and enjoys working with children as well as forensics, police, and underrepresented populations. She achieved her Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, where she was awarded the Robert S. Morrow Prize for academic and clinical excellence. She currently serves on the University of Massachusetts Medical School Advisory Board to provide her insight on research projects and proposals regarding the mental health status of young adults. Outside of her professional and academic interests, Lexie has a passion for interior and fashion design, hiking, traveling, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her kitten, Tootsie. Lexie is an avid weight trainer and can often be found in the gym or enjoying the outdoors.
Dr. Catherine Barrett, PsyD
Dr. Catherine Taylor is a current postdoctoral resident who completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She is currently earning her Board Certified Behavior Analyst degree to bolster her Clinical Psychology degree to understand patterns of behavior to create individualized recommendations for her clients. Catherine recently completed her internship training at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, broadening her knowledge in treating feeding disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prior to completing her internship, Catherine received specialized training in psychological assessment as well as individual and group therapy techniques. Aside from her professional interests, she enjoys gardening, reading, and traveling to new places. Additionally, she enjoys quality time spent with her fiancé Joe, her family, and her pets.
Dr. Boven
Dr. Rachel Boven, PsyD
Dr. Boven completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2024. While completing her degree at FIT, she completed the training required to become certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and received training at the Pediatric Diagnostic Clinic at the Scott Center in completing evaluations for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Boven also completed a master’s degree in General Psychology at West Chester University in 2019. While completing her degree she worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and a wide variety of behavioral concerns in the home and school setting. She completed her doctoral internship at the University of Central Florida 's Counseling and Psychological Services, where she gained experience with individual/group therapy, crisis intervention, and assessment. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her family and three cats.
Dr. William Jimenez, MBA
Dr. William Jimenez is Cocoa Beach Child Psychology’s general manager. William received his doctorate in business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2019. When not working at our clinic, William is the owner of a real estate investment firm, RipLog Investments, and a professor at Full Sail University. In his off time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Cassandra Clayton
Cassandra is a third-year doctoral student at Florida Institute of Technology’s Clinical Psychology program. Her passions are working with children and adolescents conducting therapy and assessments, particularly in diverse communities. Cassandra has several years of experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, and various disabilities and loves to embrace each child’s unique differences. Cassandra also has experience working with children and their families to mitigate problem behaviors in the home while improving the parent-child relationship via Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). You can always find Cassandra reading her favorite book on the beach and watching the amazing Florida sunsets. She loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoying the simple things in life as they bring her the greatest joy. Cassandra also loves to travel and find new, adventurous places to explore, as she genuinely believes life is a journey, not a destination!
Jordan Brooks
Jordan is the friendly voice you will hear when you call our office. She loves the beach and takes advantage of living in beautiful Brevard by visiting every weekend. She also makes sure to have her coffee at the beach most mornings. Jordan grew up in Tampa, Florida, and moved to Brevard two years ago to start a new career and be closer to her family.