“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Nelson Mandela
Melissa Paretsky, Ph.D.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive remediation, clinical neuropsychology, and health psychology. I have specialized training in the treatment of medically complex individuals, including those with with acquired and traumatic brain injury as well as more general cognitive difficulties in adults and older adults.
My treatment is person-centered and goal-directed. I utilize evidence-based cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, and emotional regulation strategies that have been proven effective. I also incorporate existential and humanistic methods to help my clients establish short- and long-term goals and create a meaningful life filled with optimal experiences.
I work collaboratively with my patients to uniquely tailor their treatment for their current needs and long-terms goals and to help them view their neurological, medical, and psychological diagnosis as guides that can also be thought of as unique personal strengths. I aim to help my patients realize and maximize their full potential despite, and sometimes because of, their challenges including past trauma and suffering through treatment strategies that help promote post-traumatic growth.
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In addition to my clinical work, I serve on the Editorial Board for The Academy of Neurology Journals and on the Empathy Education Committee for Find Empathy (a continuing education platform focused training therapists to treat medically complex individuals). I regularly lecture on cognitive remediation and the psychological treatment of neurological and medically complex conditions.
Education & Specialized Training
2014-2017
Pre-doctoral Internship
Post-doctoral Fellowship
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Clinical: I received specialized training in neuropsychological evaluation and evidence-based cognitive remediation, cognitive-behavioral, emotional regulation, and problem solving strategies for individuals with neurological and medically complex conditions.
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Research: I conducted a review of treatments for cognitive fatigue. I also provided treatment and aided in research for an emotion regulation focused form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was developed specifically for individuals with traumatic brain injury at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
2007-2014
M.A., Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
Health Emphasis
Neuropsychology Minor
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Yeshiva University
Clinical: I obtained practicums for evidence-based group and individual psychotherapy for the older adult population at Northwell Health (previously the Long Island Jewish Medical Center) and psychotherapy and evaluations specifically tailored for individuals with various health conditions at the Parnes Clinic at Yeshiva University. I also obtained clinical neuropsychology practicum experiences at the Montefiore Medical Center (lifespan) and James J Peters VA Medical Center.
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Research: My research in graduate school was focused on the impact of fatigue as well as various motivational factors such as effort and boredom in performance in older adults at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and individuals with Multiple Sclerosis at the Holy Name Medical Center.
1999-2003
B.A. Psychology
Washington University in St. Louis
I received a B.A. in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, where I worked as a research assistant in the social cognition lab; completed training applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy and worked on a treatment team as an ABA therapist for a 3-year old girl with autism; and completed a research project on the role of exercise on emotion.
Prior to obtaining my M.A. and Ph.D., I worked for AmeriCorps, where I helped run a program that paired retired older adults in the community to serve as reading coaches for inner city children who were behind in reading; volunteered for The Samaritans, a suicide hotline; and worked as a research assistant in the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Children's Hospital Boston (Partners Network, Harvard Medical School).