CEH PsychEd

Dr. Melissa G. Hunt is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as the Associate Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow and Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and a member of the Rome Foundation Psychogastroenterology working group. Dr. Hunt conducts research on the best approaches for stress management, and into the causes and treatment of depression, anxiety disorders and chronic GI disorders. As a clinical scientist, her emphasis is on translating basic psychological science into treatments that are effective, acceptable, and accessible to patient populations. In particular, Dr. Hunt focuses on identifying and correcting the underlying patient factors (e.g. unhelpful beliefs and maladaptive 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. In addition to her research, she maintains an active private practice in clinical psychology in which she specializes in cognitive-behavioral treatment of mood, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma disorders and on working with patients with chronic GI disorders and other health problems. Dr. Hunt is the author of the highly-regarded self-help book “Reclaim Your Life from IBS: A Scientifically Proven Plan for Relief without Restrictive Diets.”