Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health, & SocietyAdjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology
Education
Ph.D., Clinical Psyhology, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaM.S., Clinical Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaB.S., Psychology, Denison University, Granville, Ohio
Office Address
3841 Green Hills Village Dr.
Room #3000-C
Nashville, TN 37215
Room #3000-C
Nashville, TN 37215
Clinical Description
Dr. Melissa Cyperski has been a member of the faculty since 2017. She is a child and adolescent clinical psychologist with a background in cognitive-behavioral therapy. She currently works at the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody (COE) providing assessment, consultation, training, and dissemination of evidence-based best practice. The COE is part of a statewide network funded to enhance the quality of services provided to children in or at risk of entering the Tennessee child welfare or juvenile justice systems.
Specific areas of clinical expertise for Dr. Cyperski include working with children and families who have a history of trauma exposure and may be experiencing disruptions in their social, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral functioning.
She also provides affirmative and supportive mental health care for gender and/or sexually diverse youth. She is a member of the interdisciplinary clinic for transgender/gender diverse children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit: https://www.childrenshospitalvanderbilt.org/program/pediatric-transgender-clinic
Specific areas of clinical expertise for Dr. Cyperski include working with children and families who have a history of trauma exposure and may be experiencing disruptions in their social, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral functioning.
She also provides affirmative and supportive mental health care for gender and/or sexually diverse youth. She is a member of the interdisciplinary clinic for transgender/gender diverse children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit: https://www.childrenshospitalvanderbilt.org/program/pediatric-transgender-clinic
Clinical Research Keywords
trauma, child welfare system, sexual behavior problems; LGBTQ+ youth, transgender/gender diverse children and adolescents
Publications
Everhart Newman JL, Larsen JL, Thompson K, Cyperski M, Burkhart BR. Heterogeneity in Male Adolescents With Illegal Sexual Behavior: A Latent Profile Approach to Classification. Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment [print-electronic]. 2019 Oct; 31(7): 789-811. PMID: 30008247, DOI: 10.1177/1079063218784554, ISSN: 1573-286X.
Kuhn TM, Cyperski MA, Shaffer AM, Gracey KA, Adams MK, Billings GM, Ebert JS. Installing trauma-informed care through the Tennessee Child Protective Services Academy. Psychological services [print-electronic]. 2019 Feb; 16(1): 143-52. PMID: 30570285, PII: 2018-63725-001, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000320, ISSN: 1939-148X.
Fix RL, Cyperski MA, Burkhart BR. Disproportionate Minority Contact. Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment [print-electronic]. 2017 Apr; 29(3): 291-308. PMID: 26297505, PII: 1079063215601436, DOI: 10.1177/1079063215601436, ISSN: 1573-286X.
Kuhn TM, Cyperski MA, Shaffer AM, Gracey KA, Adams MK, Billings GM, Ebert JS. Installing trauma-informed care through the Tennessee Child Protective Services Academy. Psychological services [print-electronic]. 2019 Feb; 16(1): 143-52. PMID: 30570285, PII: 2018-63725-001, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000320, ISSN: 1939-148X.
Fix RL, Cyperski MA, Burkhart BR. Disproportionate Minority Contact. Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment [print-electronic]. 2017 Apr; 29(3): 291-308. PMID: 26297505, PII: 1079063215601436, DOI: 10.1177/1079063215601436, ISSN: 1573-286X.