Extensive training and Experience in the field

When choosing a therapist, supervisor, or consultant, it is important to know about their clinical experience and training. I have worked in a range of settings and trained intensively in an array of therapeutic models. Below is a description of my professional experience over 30 plus years to help you assess if my background seems like a match for your needs. 

*  Private Practice, Solo Practitioner 

*  Women’s Mental Health Collective, Member and Clinician

*  The Cambridge Hospital, Behavioral Medicine Program, 

Core Staff/Group Coordinator

* Newton Wellesley Hospital Psychiatric Ambulatory Services,

Core Staff/Training Coordinator

* Westwood Lodge Eating Disorders Program, 

Out-Patient and Evening Program Coordinator

* Norman E. Zinberg Center for Addiction Studies, Harvard Medical School, Program Coordinator

* Internal Family Systems: Program Assistant

*  Simmons College School of Social Work, Clinical Instructor

*  Smith College School of Social Work, Clinical Instructor

*  Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Teaching Associate

Simmons School of Social Work (MSW)

Brown University (B.A.)

The Parnell Institute, Attachment Focused EMDR training 1, 2, & 3

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, Level 1 & 2

Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) 

Internal Family Systems Institute,  Level 1 & 2

The Cambridge Hospital Behavioral Medicine Program: Hypnosis Training

The Family Institute of Cambridge,  (Yearlong Intensive)

Mind-Body Institute, Beth Israel/Deaconess Hospital (Chronic Pain and Illness)

Newton Wellesley Hospital Eating Disorders Program (Yearlong Fellowship)

· Guest Lecturer, Beth Israel Hospital Social Work CEU Series: Integrating Treatments in Clinical Practice

· Faculty Member: Integrating Treatments: Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic Perspectives, The Cambridge Series, The Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School

· Faculty Member: Group Therapy: Theory, Practice and Implementation. The Cambridge Series, The Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School

· Treating and Understanding the Addictions. Plenary Session. The Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School

· Evaluation and Treatment of Eating Disordered Clients. Continuing education presentation to the Social Work Staff of Beth Israel Hospital

· Out-Patient Treatment of Eating Disordered Clients, a presentation for the Social Work Staff at Westwood Lodge

· Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse. Presentation to the Eating Disorders Seminar at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

· Never Thin Enough. A seminar on eating disorders offered by American Psych Management, Inc. for Mass Port employees

· "Why Can't My Body Be More Like Hers?" A discussion of body image and food control issues for mothers and their adolescent daughters offered as part of A Time for Ourselves: Mother Daughter Day, Newton-Wellesley Hospital

· Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse. Presentation at Fellows Conference at Massachusetts General Hospital

· Chronic Fatigue. A public lecture given as part of the WOMANTALK series at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

· Psycho-educational Workshop for Families of Eating Disordered Individuals. Public Workshop at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

· Help for Compulsive Eaters - How to Break the Cycle of Chronic Dieting. Public Lecture at Cambridge Hospital

 * Robbins, Melissa T.: The impact of pregnancy on the psychotherapeutic process: An integrated approach to working with the self-disordered client. In A. Robbins (Ed.), Therapeutic Presence: Bridging expression and form. London: Jessica Kingsley Press. 

· Shaffer, H.J. & Robbins, M.: Manufacturing multiple meanings of addiction: time-limited realities. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal.

· Shaffer, H.J. & Robbins, M.: Psychotherapy for Addictive Behavior: A stage Change Approach to Meaning Making. In A. Washton (Ed.), Psychotherapy and Substance Abuse: A Practitioner's Handbook. New York: Guilford Publications. 

· Belfer, P., Robbins, M., & Goldenberg, D.: Fibromyalgia: Psychological characteristics of individuals seeking group pain management treatment. Paper presented at the 12th Annual Convention of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, DC.