Experience

Dr. Melissa Howlett’s clinical experience and interests span both Health and Clinical Psychology. With a longstanding passion for Health Psychology, Dr. Melissa offers expertise in providing psychological support in managing the cognitive, emotional, and social challenges related to living with complex medical needs and illnesses. She offers support specific to coping with medical diagnoses, treatment, and hospital stays, procedural anxiety and pain, medical trauma, treatment adherence, and overall adjustment in the context of a variety of medical conditions, across the developmental spectrum.

Dr. Melissa also has extensive experience delivering psychological assessment and intervention to support children, adolescents, and families in navigating anxiety, low mood, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), emotion dysregulation, attention and learning challenges, trauma-related issues, and disruptive behaviours.

Clinical Approach

Dr. Melissa is dedicated to providing a safe and non-judgemental therapeutic space, built on empathy and trust. She approaches all clients with a warm, accepting, and inclusive therapeutic style, that acknowledges and respects individual background, experiences, and values.

Dr. Melissa’s clinical approach is grounded in evidence-based assessments and interventions, in which biopsychosocial conceptualization and formulations are emphasized and ongoing. Dr. Melissa has received training in various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Dr. Melissa flexibly integrates various techniques, informed by attachment and behaviour principles, to ensure the individual needs of each client are met. She values collaboration with youth, caregivers, and other supporting professionals to create tailored and meaningful treatment plans.

Background & Training

Dr. Melissa completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Dalhousie University, with much of her clinical training completed at the IWK Health Centre, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She subsequently completed her Pre-Doctoral Residency in Pediatric and Clinical Psychology at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

In addition to her work at Whole Kids Health, Dr. Melissa currently holds a position at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) providing psychosocial support to youth and families within the Division of Hematology and Oncology.

Supervision

Dr. Melissa is pleased to offer clinical supervision to psychology trainees and clinicians. She is passionate about the role that supervision and mentorship plays in advancing Health and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Melissa’s role includes overseeing client care and ensuring implementation of high-quality care and evidence-based practices.