Meet Dr. Melisa!

Hello! I’m Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela

Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Director

I’m Dr. Melisa Arias-Valenzuela, Psy.D. / Ph.D., C. Psych., PMH-C, and I am a clinical psychologist licensed in Ontario. I am also a certified perinatal mental health clinician with Postpartum Support International (PMH-C) and a Qualified Instructor in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT-QI). I am the founder and clinical director of Uprise Psychology & Wellness. I work primarily with adults as well as teens and their families struggling with eating disorders and body image concerns, as well as adults struggling with perinatal mental health. I also provide clinical supervision services to team members at Uprise Psychology & Wellness, clinical consultation to professionals outside of the practice and I co-lead several wellness and therapeutic skills groups.

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My Approach & Values

My therapeutic approach is collaborative, compassionate, trauma and social justice informed, as well as evidence-based. Working with my clients, I use psychological interventions backed by scientific data to help people make meaningful changes to their lives, ease their suffering, and enhance their well-being.

My licenses: CPO # 6862
My languages: English, French and Spanish
My availability: I provide in-person and virtual services.

My Training

Throughout my doctoral studies, I trained in various clinical settings including a university clinic, a mental-health hospital and private community clinics.
I completed my predoctoral internship at the McGill University Health Center’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy center.
Since then, I have received additional training at the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, Contextual Psychology Institute, Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Compassionate Mind Foundation, Mindful Eating Training Institute
Radically Open LTD, Postpartum Support International.

My Relevant Life Experiences

I’m a Latinx, second generation immigrant.
I have a background in vocal music performance.
I am a mother.

My Areas of Expertise:

Eating disorders and body image concerns
Perinatal mental health difficulties
Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders
Trauma-related disorders
Stress management and burnout
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem
Self-criticism and perfectionism
Academic and relationship Issues

My Education

Baccalauréat spécialisé approfondi en Psychologie (B.A.) from the University of Ottawa (Magna Cum Laude)
Doctorat en Psychologie (Psy.D./Ph.D.) from the Université du Québec à Montréal
My doctoral thesis focused on understanding how multicultural people identify with their cultural groups and negotiate their cultural differences as well as the repercussions of these processes on their psychological well-being.
My thesis received a doctoral fellowship by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)