Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe
Autism Pediatrician
Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe provides high-quality, personalized medical care for children and families with developmental and behavioral concerns.
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Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe - Autism Pediatrician
Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe
I believe that the most important elements of a doctor-patient relationship are communication, empathy and trust, and I aim to develop strong partnerships with each family I see in clinic.
As a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, I provide developmental, behavioral and medical assessments of children with a wide range of developmental and learning difficulties.
I also have an important role supporting families who are concerned about their child's development and behavior, and informing them of recent advances in our understanding of developmental conditions and treatment approaches.
My goal is to empower parents as they advocate for their child. I am excited about the future of the field of developmental pediatrics -- I believe that we will continue to provide families and children with more robust evidence for our practices and treatments, use expanding technologies in our management plans and offer more interdisciplinary teams integrated into the community to help children with special needs.
Professional Appointments of Trenna Sutcliffe
- Instructor
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine. Stanford University, California.
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician
Mary L. Johnson Developmental and Behavioral Unit. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Palo Alto, California.
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician
Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Los Altos Center. Los Altos, California
- Medical Director
Education of Trenna Sutcliffe
- Bachelor of Science
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Department of Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics
- Master of Science
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Department of Medical Biophysics.
- Doctor of Medicine
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- L.M.C.C.
Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
- Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics
General Pediatrics Certifying Examination, ABP, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- FRCP(C)
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Pediatrics), Ottawa, Canada.
- Master of Science
Stanford University, Stanford, United States. Department of Health Research and Policy, Division of Epidemiology
Pediatrician specializing in autism
Honors and Awards
- The Canada Scholarship
1990
- J.S. McLean Scholarship, University of Toronto
1990
- The C.L. Burton Scholarship, University of Toronto
1992
- The Dr. James A. and Connie P. Dickson Scholarship, University of Toronto
1993
- The University of Toronto Master’s Open Fellowship Award
1994
- The Ontario Graduate Scholarship
1995
- Trainee’s Research Start-up-fund Award. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
2001
- Second Place Research Award. The John Stobo Prichard Neurology Research Day. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
2003
- Young Investigator Travel Award from the American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research
2004
- First Place Research Poster Award in Subspecialty Pediatrics. Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
2005
- Rose Award for Service Excellence. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
2007
CHILD AND FAMILY THERAPY
At Sutcliffe Clinic, we implement evidence-based interventions that focus on leveraging a child's strengths while equipping them with essential skills to address their challenges.
We understand that every family has unique needs, which is why we offer a range of services tailored to meet those needs. These services include individual therapy, parent coaching, and family-based counseling.
Our approach involves setting realistic goals for your child's development and celebrating their achievements along the way. By acknowledging their successes, we provide the motivation and encouragement needed to continue progressing towards new goals.
Parent coaching is a vital component of our services, as it empowers parents with the necessary skills to effectively respond to their child's emotional and behavioral challenges.
We guide parents in fostering an environment that promotes the generalization of their child's acquired skills, allowing for continuous growth and development.
Additionally, our family-based counseling is grounded in evidence-based practices but is also tailored to the unique dynamics of each family.
We understand that every family is different, and as such, we adapt our counseling approach to provide the best support for your specific family situation.
We emphasize regular check-ins and encourage active parent involvement throughout the counseling process to optimize progress and ensure a collaborative approach.
Overall, our organization is committed to providing evidence-based interventions and comprehensive support to help your child thrive. By focusing on their strengths, teaching essential skills, and involving parents in the process, we strive to empower families and promote the well-being and development of every child we serve.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
Psychological assessment at The Sutcliffe Clinic encompasses more than just testing conducted by our psychologists. We take a holistic approach to understand your child's strengths and challenges comprehensively. Psychological assessment serves two key functions. The first function is to determine if there is a diagnosis or condition present. The second function, which we prioritize, is gaining a deeper understanding of your child's overall profile. This understanding enables us to develop a plan that leverages their strengths, supports ongoing skill-building, and identifies appropriate treatments as necessary.
While a diagnosis can be valuable for accessing services, obtaining insurance coverage, advocating for school support, and enhancing understanding of your child's struggles, we place less emphasis on making a diagnosis. Instead, our focus is on gaining a holistic understanding of your child.
Psychological assessment involves various components such as psychological testing, clinic observations, school observations (if needed), collateral interviews (if needed), parent assessment tools, and teacher assessment tools. Psychological testing provides a quantitative and standardized approach to measure your child's intelligence, academic abilities, social skills, executive functioning, and mental health.
In cases where concerns are related to school and learning, our psychological assessment is often complemented by testing conducted by our educational therapists. This allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the educational issues and enables us to create a precise and effective treatment plan.
During the assessment process, our ultimate goal is not only to identify challenges and necessary treatments but also to recognize your child's strengths. We believe in utilizing these strengths to foster the development of new skills and boost self-esteem.
At The Sutcliffe Clinic, psychological assessment goes beyond mere testing. We strive to gain a holistic understanding of your child, focusing on their unique strengths and challenges. By leveraging this knowledge, we create personalized treatment plans that empower your child to grow and thrive.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
The educational support team at the Sutcliffe Clinic provides:
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educational therapy for your child
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support for families
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school consultation
The goal of the educational team is to help students recognize their learning strengths and empower them with skills to face any learning challenge. With a focus on personal strengths, your child will feel what it is like to be a successful learner and develop a toolbox of strategies to support their learning.
The team also works closely with school personnel across public, private and therapeutic settings to create collaborative relationships and foster the growth of each child. We use a collaborative model that works to positively engage the student, their family, and their school team.
THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS
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Learning disabilities
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Dyscalculia
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Dysgraphia
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Dyslexia
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Mild learning differences
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Learning challenges associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
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Executive functioning deficits
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Auditory Processing Disorder
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Challenges with working memory and processing speed
Conditions we treat
Our interdisciplinary team of autism specialists specialize in the evaluation and treatment of the following conditions:
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Anxiety disorders, depression or other psychiatric issues
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Cerebral palsy
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Conduct disorders and behavioral issues
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Developmental delays in speech, language, motor skills or cognitive ability
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Development disabilities, including spina bifida
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Genetic disorders
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Habit disorders, including tics and Tourette Syndrome
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Hearing, vision, and other sensory impairments
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Intellectual disabilities
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Learning disorders and school problems
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Regulatory disorders, including difficulties with sleep, feeding, discipline, and toilet-training
