Melissa O'Donnell
Licensed Psychologist
CA PSY31277
melissa@penbh.com
My therapeutic approach is to provide an affirming, safe space for my clients to deepen self-awareness, navigate emotional suffering, and become more fully engaged with their lives. I specialize in treating a wide-range of challenges including addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, insomnia, anger, and relationship difficulties. In doing so, I incorporate empirically-supported practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness-based interventions by flexibly adapting these treatments to best match the individual goals of each client. I also prefer to work from a strengths-based perspective by empowering individuals to utilize personal strengths and resiliency to overcome life stressors.
Dr. O’Donnell obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium. She then completed her internship at the VA Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center in Downtown Los Angeles, followed by her postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in the Continuum of Care for Addictive Behaviors, Trauma, and Co-Occurring Disorders focus area. Her formal training has emphasized interventions for addiction, coping with chronic illness, as well as Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. She currently serves as a staff psychologist on the Addiction Consultation and Treatment team at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. O’Donnell’s research has focused on the role of self-stigma for individuals who struggle with addiction as well as other marginalized conditions or identities.
Education & Training
Licensed Psychologist
CA PSY31277
melissa@penbh.com
My therapeutic approach is to provide an affirming, safe space for my clients to deepen self-awareness, navigate emotional suffering, and become more fully engaged with their lives. I specialize in treating a wide-range of challenges including addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, insomnia, anger, and relationship difficulties. In doing so, I incorporate empirically-supported practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness-based interventions by flexibly adapting these treatments to best match the individual goals of each client. I also prefer to work from a strengths-based perspective by empowering individuals to utilize personal strengths and resiliency to overcome life stressors.
Dr. O’Donnell obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium. She then completed her internship at the VA Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center in Downtown Los Angeles, followed by her postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in the Continuum of Care for Addictive Behaviors, Trauma, and Co-Occurring Disorders focus area. Her formal training has emphasized interventions for addiction, coping with chronic illness, as well as Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. She currently serves as a staff psychologist on the Addiction Consultation and Treatment team at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. O’Donnell’s research has focused on the role of self-stigma for individuals who struggle with addiction as well as other marginalized conditions or identities.
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
- Predoctoral Internship, VA Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center
- Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium