Melanie A. Fernandez, PhD, ABPP
Melanie A. Fernandez, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the delivery of evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, and adults. She has conducted psychological evaluations and provided support to hundreds of children, adolescents, adults, and their families using approaches such as behavioral parent training (BPT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and informed by Emotionally-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Dr. Fernandez is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychologists, with a specialty in clinical child and adolescent psychology. She is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) endorsed by PCIT International. She is also the tenth provider to be certified in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, or SPACE.
Dr. Fernandez earned her doctorate in clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida, with a specialty in clinical child and pediatric psychology. Her mentor was Dr. Sheila M. Eyberg, the developer of PCIT. Dr. Fernandez completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at the New York University Child Study Center. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship, she continued at NYU as a Clinical Assistant Professor providing evaluations and treatment and as an Assistant Research Scientist treating families in two NIMH-funded clinical trials. In 2010, Dr. Fernandez was one of the original clinicians to join the Child Mind Institute, where she directed the organization’s PCIT Program. As Director of PCIT, Dr. Fernandez provided high-quality treatment and training of clinicians in house and around the world. In her time at CMI, she also served as Principal Investigator of a study funded by the New York City Council examining Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) in NYC schools.
Dr. Fernandez has published papers in several peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, and Behavior Therapy. She has taught graduate students and has trained clinicians at various levels. Dr. Fernandez is also active in serving on committees for psychologists seeking board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
For more than a decade, Dr. Fernandez has maintained her private practice, learning and growing alongside the individuals and families with whom she has the privilege of collaborating. Dr. Fernandez is licensed as a psychologist in New York.
