Niiya Walker, PhD

Dr. Niiya Walker is a School Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at Calhoun Psychology, where she provides psychological and educational testing, as well as individual therapy for children and adolescents through our Durham office and community partnerships.

Dr. Walker takes a thoughtful, developmentally informed approach to working with children and families. She recognizes that a child’s emotional, behavioral, or learning challenges are best understood in the context of their individual strengths, developmental needs, and experiences at home and school. In assessment, she brings together information from multiple sources to help families understand why difficulties may be occurring and identify practical ways to support their child. In therapy, she uses evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral parent training, and behavior modification, to help children and families build skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate challenges more effectively. Dr. Walker works to make both assessment and therapy comfortable and engaging for young people and values collaboration with parents, caregivers, and educators to help positive changes carry over into everyday life.

Dr. Walker earned both her PhD and M.S. in School Psychology from North Carolina State University and her B.S. in Psychology from Winston-Salem State University. Her clinical training and professional experience have included work in public and private schools, university settings, specialty clinics, and private practice. Across these settings, she has provided assessment and intervention services to children, adolescents, and families with a range of educational and mental health needs. Her professional interests include early childhood social-emotional development, parent training, personality development, and understanding how screen media may influence children’s social-emotional development.

Outside of work, Dr. Walker enjoys spending time with her young son and family, exploring new places, and finding ways to make everyday family life more fun and meaningful. As both a clinician and a parent, she brings an appreciation for the everyday experiences and challenges that families navigate.