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AUCD Experts

Melissa Carson, PsyD

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Contact Information:
323-361-2300
Leadership:
Discipline Coordinators:
Project/Program/Clinic Contacts:
Behavioral Health: Pediatric Psychology Mental Health
Discipline(s):
AUCD Council Membership:
No Council Membership
Vita/Bio:

EDUCATION

Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology                                                                             August 2001      

Baylor University, Waco, Texas (APA Accredited)

 

 

Master of Science, Clinical Psychology                                                                         August 1999              Baylor University, Waco, Texas (APA Accredited)

           

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major: Psychology, Minor: Business Management                            May 1996

Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama

Magna Cum Laude

 

LICENSURE

 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, License Number PSY 19353                                                October 2003       

State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology                          

 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

 

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University Affiliated Program,                   September 2003 to Current

USC Keck School of Medicine

Los Angeles, California

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Mental Health Services and Cardiothoracic Transplant Program

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provide onsite consultation liaison services and ongoing therapy services for patients within the Cardiothoracic Transplant Program and provide medical staff trainings regarding psychosocial issues   

       for medical staff

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Participate in Cardiothoracic pretransplant evaluations

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Coordinate and Supervise an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, consisting of trainees and licensed staff from the following disciplines: Psychology, Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Developmental Pediatrics, and Social Work

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conduct individual and family therapy with a Pediatric Psychology population, including patients from the following clinics: cardiothoracic transplant, endocrinology, nephrology, craniofacial, GI, and chronic pain

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provide consultation to patient’s teachers and attend IEP meetings

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Lead weekly didactic for APA accredited internship program

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Supervise psychology interns, a psychology fellow, a social worker and a case manager

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Prepare, present, and participate in Pediatric Psychology didactics

 

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University Affiliated Program,          September 2001 to August 2003

USC Keck School of Medicine

Los Angeles, California

Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow

Making Strides Program

Mental Health Services

 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted individual and family therapy with a Pediatric Psychology population

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Attended and provided consultation during weekly psychosocial rounds in Nephrology Department

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided onsite consultation liaison services during Endocrinology, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Chronic Pain Clinics

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided consultation and clinical intervention to patients from Pulmonology and Cardiothoracic Clinics

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments of patients from Craniofacial Clinic

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted medical staff training regarding psychosocial issues

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided consultation to patient’s teachers and attended IEP meetings

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided weekly individual supervision to a pre-doctoral psychology intern

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Prepared, presented, and participated in Pediatric Psychology didactics

Supervisors:                   Jennifer Rafeedie, Psy.D.

Stephanie Marcy, Ph.D.

                                                            Robert Colegrove, Ed.D.

Mina Nguyen, Psy.D.

              Training Director:          Jason Williams, Psy.D.

 

 

University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department                      September 2000 to August 2001

of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Child/

Pediatric Psychology Internship Program                        

Louisville, Kentucky

Predoctoral Psychology Intern

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided pediatric consultation, assessment, and behavioral medicine intervention on the Pediatric Consultation/Liaison Service for Kosair Children’s Hospital

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted intake evaluations, psychological assessments, outpatient therapy services at Bingham Child Guidance Clinic

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided individual and family therapy sessions at Ackerly Child Psychiatric Unit

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided group and family therapy at Keller Day Treatment Program

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Co-facilitated parenting and social skills groups at Bingham Child Guidance Clinic

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted acute psychological emergency room evaluations at Kosair Children’s Hospital

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Attended weekly didactics consisting of Psychology Seminar, Psychotherapy Seminar, and Developmental Psychopathology Seminar

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Attended Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Child Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Hematology/Oncology Psychosocial Rounds, Pediatric Medicine Grand Rounds, and Frazier Rehabilitation Hospital Rounds

Supervisors:                   David Causey, Ph.D.

            Laurie Mount-Grimes, Ph.D.

            Joseph Edwards, Psy.D.

            Bryan Carter, Ph.D.

            Edith Bloch, M.A.

Sandra Elam, M.D.

Training Director:            David Causey, Ph.D.                  

 

Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation                                July 1999 to June 2000   

Fairfield, Texas

Psychology Practicum Student

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided individual therapy with a diverse diagnostic population ranging in age from 11-65

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted phone screenings, intakes, and crisis intervention in a rural outpatient community mental health facility

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Facilitated emergency hospitalizations

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Served as a liaison between clients and staff psychiatrist regarding medication administration and maintenance

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Administered and interpreted psychological evaluations for Waco Police Department to assess appropriateness of job candidates for employment in the field of law enforcement

Supervisor:                     John Turnage, Psy.D.

 

Methodist Children’s Home                                                                                      July 1998 to June 1999

Waco, Texas

Psychology Practicum Student 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted psychoeducational and emotional assessments of children and adolescents

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided consultation services regarding test interpretation and placement recommendations

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided individual and group therapy services

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided play therapy services

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Attended and participated in treatment team meetings                                          

                        Supervisors:                   Bradley S. Miller, M.D.

                                                            Elise Pinney, Ph.D.

                                                            Daniel Gallegos, Ph.D.

EOAC Head Start                                                                                       August 1997 to May 1998

Waco, Texas

Psychology Trainee

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted approximately 400 mental health screenings of children ages 3-5 to identify at-risk children for referral to mental health services

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided individual play therapy

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Developed and implemented behavior modification plans for classroom and home use

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted cognitive assessments

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided psychoeducation to parents concerning mental health issues

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Conducted parent conferences

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Consulted with teachers regarding mental health issues in the classroom

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Supervised undergraduate mental health workers in the provision of mental health services

                        Supervisors:       Helen E. Benedict, Ph.D.

                                                Mercy Chieza, Psy.D.     

           

Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory at the University of                                  July 1996 to June 1997

Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama

Psychologist’s Assistant/Neuropsychology Technician

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Administered and scored neuropsycholgical assessments for adult and geriatric outpatients and inpatients

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Administered and scored assessment batteries for forensic evaluations

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Assisted in conducting research on competency and dementia

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Assisted in writing and submitting grant proposals

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Maintained research database

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Administered cognitive assessment protocols for drug studies related to the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

 

The Crisis Center                                                                                  December 1996 to June 1997

Birmingham, Alabama 

Counselor on Children’s and Teen Link Phone Lines              

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Answered the telephone counseling lines for children and adolescents

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Provided assessment, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources

      

Vaughan Psychiatric Clinic for Children at The Children’s                     September 1995 to May 1996

Hospital of Alabama

Birmingham, AL

Undergraduate Internship Student

 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Worked with child inpatients, ages 3-18, in a day treatment program

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Assisted patients with educational assignments and occupational training

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·       <!--[endif]-->Assisted in implementing behavior modification plans in classrooms

 

SUPERVISORY and ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

 

Program Area Leader, CHLA Pediatric Psychology Program                                                   May 2006- Present     

 

Supervisor, CHLA Non-licensed Social Work Staff (1 hour/wk)                                                  May 2006- Present

 

Program Coordinator and Supervisor, CHLA USC/UCED

Service: