About Melanie
Melanie was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, and has spent the majority of her clinical career serving various communities across Los Angeles County. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from the University of Southern California, and a coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation through the Center for Nonprofit Management. After consulting in the nonprofit sector and working in recruiting for a technology/entertainment company, Melanie pursued her passion for clinical work, earning both her Master of Arts and Doctorate in clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University.
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At the beginning of Melanie's clinical training, she led evidence-based psychoeducation group workshops for the social and emotional development of children in a school setting. She transitioned to providing individual and family therapy to children and their families in an outpatient clinic setting, and then individual and group therapy services to adults with severe mental illness in an outpatient clinic setting. Melanie completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Arkansas Counseling and Psychological Services, where she worked as a generalist and received specialized training in suicidality, eating disorders, and complex trauma. Melanie then served as the student-athlete postdoctoral fellow at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services.
Melanie has continued to provide mental health care to the UCLA student population. In her clinical work with individuals at UCLA, Melanie focuses on acute and complex trauma, depression, body image preoccupations, emotion dysregulation, identity development, struggles with adjustment to life transitions, grief and loss, and first-generation and international student mental health. She contributes to the ADHD and eating disorder teams, conducting ADHD assessments and leading disordered eating process groups.
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As an adjunct professor at CSPP, Melanie taught clinical psychology doctoral students. Her course focused on how to conceptualize and intervene for adult clients using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP) frameworks.
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In private practice, Melanie provides individual therapy, coaching, consulting, and training services.
