Melanie J. Bliss, Ph.D.

Dr. Melanie Bliss is a clinical psychologist who is warm, non-judgmental and empathic. She seeks to collaborate with and empower her clients. Working from a motto of “Courage and acceptance bring change,” Dr. Bliss believes the process of growth and change can be challenging but yields magnificent life improvements. She enjoys working with a wide range of clientelle and strives to accommodate her clients’ needs. Her theoretical orientation reflects an integration of the following modalities: cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), interpersonal, and humanistic. She emphasizes mindfulness approaches to psychotherapy with many of her clients.

Dr. Bliss accepts MasterCard/Visa, cash, and check, and she is in network for some insurance companies. She is currently working with a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Kim Davis, who specializes in working with children and adolescents although she also works with adults and couples.

Services Provided:

--  Psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, children (over age 8), and

    families

--  Corporate or Organizational Development

--  Talks or presentations on topics which may include: Sexual

    Assault, Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment,   

    Communication, & Interpersonal Relationships

--  In addition, Dr. Bliss is currently conducting a Dialectical Behavior

     Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Group with Dr. Stephanie Ezust

Areas of expertise and specialties:

--  Issues primarily affecting teenage girls and women

--  College and graduate students

--  Trauma / PTSD

--  Sexual Assault / Rape

--  Child Abuse (children and adult survivors)

--  Intimate partner violence / Domestic violence

--  Personality Disorders

--  Relationships

--  Self-injurious behavior (e.g., cutting)

--  Pregnancy and postpartum

--  Chronic pain/illness, including HIV

--  Depression and anxiety

Biographical History

Education and Training:

B.S., Berry College

M.A., Georgia State University

Ph.D., Georgia State University

Residency, Medical College of Georgia and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Fellowship, Emory University School of Medicine

Licensure, State of Georgia, PSY002900

Additional Experience and Qualifications:

Dr. Bliss has worked in multiple settings, including private practice, hospitals/medical, community-based, child advocacy, court, academia, non-profit, and employee faculty assistance.

She currently serves as a consultant to the following organizations:
-- EMSTAR Research, Inc., a program evaluation and organizational development firm in Atlanta (www.emstarresearch.com).

-- The Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault (GNESA) (law enforcement trainer)

-- Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) .

Prior to her graduate training, she worked as a Behavioral Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her professional associations include the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA). She is a parent of two children and enjoys reading, music, running, and travel.