Dr. MELISSA JINARIU
About Dr. Melissa
I have been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY26316) and Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT42216) for a combined 25 years. In that time, I have aided hundreds of individuals, children, and families in reducing trauma, relational discord, and emotional pain. I approach treatment from a strength-based perspective and will collaborate with you to form an individualized treatment plan to reduce distress and build resilience.
Education & Training
I received my Doctorate in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in 2011 and received clinical training in community mental health, school-based, and out-patient hospital settings. I completed my APA-accredited residency working with traumatized children and families at UC Davis Children’s Hospital CAARE Center and spent my postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor UCLA Medical Center specializing in pediatric trauma, attachment, and adoption-related issues. My dissertation research focused on factors that contribute to secure attachment in adoptive families.
I earned a Masters of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2002. With this degree, I worked in private practice, in residential treatment, and in the private sector of foster care as a Social Worker, Clinical Supervisor, and Assistant Executive Director.
In addition to private practice, I am passionate about training developing clinicians. For almost a decade, I have been an adjunct professor Azusa Pacific University, where I taught doctoral classes on child and adolescent development, spiritual integration, and child abuse. Additionally, I provided supervision to over 75 pre-licensed clinicians at APU’s Community Counseling Center, where I developed and oversaw the clinical Trauma Track.
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I have trained and/or am certified in several empirically proven treatment models to reduce or eliminate symptoms including: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and am a Certified Consultant with the EMDR International Association, Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), Seeking Safety, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS), Theraplay, Collaborative Problem Solving, and Psychological First Aid.
I have also trained in the school of life. As a mom of four neurodivergent children, and a foster-adoptive parent, I have experienced the trial-by-fire that is being a parent. I sympathize with parenting struggles first-hand, and have practical tools to reduce your stress and increase personal/familial meaning and joy.