Melissa G. Hunt, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and serve as the Associate Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. I am a Fellow and Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. I chair the Integrative Behavioral Health Special Interest Group at ADAA. I am also the inaugural and past chair of PENDELDOT, the organization that manages the clinical psychology externship match for eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.
On the academic side, I conduct research in the cognitive and affective bases of depression, anxiety disorders and chronic GI disorders. As a clinical scientist, my emphasis is on translating basic psychological science into treatments that are effective, acceptable, and accessible to patient populations. In particular, I focus on identifying and correcting the underlying patient factors (e.g. distorted cognitions and avoidance) that lead to reduced quality of life, impairment and distress, particularly factors that exacerbate chronic health problems and make them harder to cope with.
I also have an active private practice in clinical psychology in which I specialize in cognitive-behavioral treatment of complex, chronic GI disorders, as well as mood, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and trauma disorders.
I feel very fortunate to have a career in which I am able to combine teaching, supervising young clinicians, doing research and seeing patients. Each aspect of my professional life informs the others and I know that seeing patients makes me a better scientist, and doing research makes me a more effective clinician.
I live in suburban Philadelphia with my beloved husband and kids. I have three children, a wonderful golden retriever who often works with me as a co-therapist and research assistant, a cat, a snake and numerous goldfish. When I’m not seeing patients, teaching, or doing research, I train for sprint triathlons, do yoga, cook, make an occasional quilt, read fantasy novels and play with my family and friends.