Meet Dr. Melanie!

Positionality: I identify as a White cis-het woman with disabilities from a lower social
class background.
 

My Background & Approach:

Although I am now based in New York, I lived in Augusta, Georgia for four years, and
am happy to remain with ACIP! I have also lived in different parts of Florida; North
Louisiana; Oklahoma; and am originally from eastern Pennsylvania. As you can
imagine, I understand well the stress of moving!
 

My primary emphasis in psychotherapy is on cultural responsiveness, anti-oppression,
and affirmation. I aim to help clients develop healthier relationships with themselves and
others through a process of self-discovery and of better recognizing the impact of the
world around us. I enjoy working collaboratively with individuals of all backgrounds,
including racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, to help them toward their personal
goals for change. Through developing a caring, nonjudgmental, and safe space, I work
to create an environment in which clients can examine and better understand
themselves and the challenges they face. I have experience working with a wide variety
of concerns; I have particular expertise in working with addiction/substance abuse;
trauma; individuals in high-stress or high-pressure careers; sexual orientation and
gender identity (LGBTQIA+); and issues related to experiencing racism, sexism, and
other forms of oppression.
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I have deep personal and professional commitments to antiracism and social justice. As
an educator and a researcher, my primary areas of focus are on understanding and
ameliorating racism; culturally and structurally responsive psychotherapy and
psychotherapy training; and racial and economic inequities in higher education. I am
also actively involved in political advocacy and action for community change.

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Theoretical & Clinical Orientation:

My psychotherapy practice is based on the best psychotherapy science, from which we know the therapy relationship and the fit between client and therapist are strongly related to seeing benefits from therapy. A number of psychotherapy theories have had an influence on my development, but my approach is primarily informed by psychodynamic, interpersonal process, humanistic-existential, and feminist-multicultural approaches. From interpersonal and attachment lenses, integrated within a feminist-multicultural framework, I work with clients to help them identify how their past has shaped them, and how to create a future that works better for them.

 

I also provide culturally responsive and collaborative psychological assessment such as for learning disorders, ADHD, symptom or personality concerns, or career assessment. My goal is to help you identify and understand the things that you may be struggling with, and identify ways to work with them moving forward.

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Professional Credentials

• Licensed Psychologist, New York (#026622); Georgia (#PSY004400)

• Board Certified Counseling Psychologist (ABPP) by the American Board of Professional Psychology

• PSYPACT E. Passport (APIT #11880)​

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Education

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York

• B.A. in Psychology, Cedar Crest College

• A.S. in Psychology, Lehigh Carbon Community College

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​Professional Service & Memberships

I am actively involved in the American Psychological Association (APA), APA Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), and my state psychological associations, with a primary emphasis on education and training, social justice, and advocacy. I am currently President of the Society of Counseling Psychology (APA Division 17), a member on APA’s Committee on Socioeconomic Status, and former member and chair (2020) of the APA Board of Educational Affairs. Additionally, I am an Associate Editor of the journal Training and Education in Professional Psychology and serve on the editorial boards of The Counseling Psychologist, Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Psychological Services, and Psychotherapy (for which I’m currently guest-editing a special issue on culturally and structurally responsive psychotherapy). 

 

I frequently do speaking engagements (including continuing education workshops and webinars) and consultation; for more information, see my personal website.

 

My primary role when I am not doing clinical work is as an Associate Professor and researcher in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, School of Education at the University at Albany in New York.

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