Yu (Kevin)
Zhang
,
PhD
About
Dr. Yu (Kevin) Zhang is a licensed psychologist with the Child and Family Therapy Clinic in the Department of Behavioral Psychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute. He provides psychological treatment to children, adolescents, and their families experiencing a range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns.
Education
Dr. Zhang received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China, and his doctoral degree in school psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He completed his doctoral internship at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Pennsylvania and his two-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric behavioral psychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Zhang is a licensed psychologist in Maryland, a licensed school psychologist in Massachusetts, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.
Dr. Zhang provides evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and families experiencing emotional, behavioral, developmental, and relational concerns. His clinical work addresses internalizing concerns, including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder; neurodevelopmental differences, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder; emotional and behavioral regulation difficulties; and challenges involving parenting and family relationships. His practice integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, tailored to each child's developmental needs and family context.
Dr. Zhang emphasizes strong therapeutic relationships and an understanding of each child's developmental experiences. Drawing from attachment-informed, developmental, ecological, and family-systems perspectives, he considers how relationships and environments shape children's emotional and behavioral well-being. He strives to provide collaborative, culturally responsive, and neuroaffirming care that builds on children's and families' strengths, fosters meaningful connections, and promotes resilience.
Research
Dr. Zhang's research interests focus on promoting children's social-emotional development and behavioral well-being through family-centered interventions, caregiver training, and preventive practices. He is particularly interested in strengthening connections between clinical, educational, and community settings to support continuity of care and help children apply treatment gains across school, home, and community environments. His interests also include developing and implementing evidence-based practices that equip families and educators with practical strategies to promote children's long-term adjustment and resilience.