Professional Biography
Melanie is a second-year graduate student in the Professional Counseling Psychology master’s program at Florida International University, returning to the MINT Program after previously working as an undergraduate research assistant. During her time with MINT, she supported clinical and research efforts focused on children experiencing anxiety symptoms and co-authored a research poster examining the relationship between school-home language concordance and selective mutism severity. She has also worked directly with children experiencing selective mutism and/or social anxiety through Brave Bunch, MINT’s intensive summer treatment program, where she gained experience implementing evidence-based interventions in a supportive and structured setting.
For the past four years, she has conducted psychological intakes with children and families in a private practice setting, working with children presenting with a range of concerns, including anxiety symptoms, behavioral and emotional difficulties, and questions related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders, etc. She has also gained experience conducting behavioral observations as part of comprehensive psychological evaluations. At FIU’s Center for Children and Families (CCF), she has conducted clinical intakes and co-led the SUCCESS Program, supporting elementary-aged children with ADHD symptoms through interventions targeting attention, executive functioning, and behavioral skills. Her clinical and research interests include child and adolescent mental health, family dynamics, psychological assessment, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental concerns. She is particularly interested in working with Hispanic and culturally diverse families and is committed to providing culturally responsive care that supports both children and their caregivers. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and provides clinical services in both languages.
Contact: melmesa@fiu.edu
MINT
Melanie is a second-year graduate student in the Professional Counseling Psychology master’s program at Florida International University, returning to the MINT Program after previously working as an undergraduate research assistant. During her time with MINT, she supported clinical and research efforts focused on children experiencing anxiety symptoms and co-authored a research poster examining the relationship between school-home language concordance and selective mutism severity. She has also worked directly with children experiencing selective mutism and/or social anxiety through Brave Bunch, MINT’s intensive summer treatment program, where she gained experience implementing evidence-based interventions in a supportive and structured setting.
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