Dr. Melodie Schaefer

Alumna Melodie Schaefer has come full circle. After earning her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1993 and building a three-decade career in mental health and in California professional psychology circles, she has returned to her alma mater as director of The Chicago School’s newly acquired counseling centers in Westwood and Irvine, California.

In her new position, Dr. Schaefer will direct and expand upon the services provided by two of California’s largest community counseling centers, which became part of The Chicago School through its affiliation with the California Graduate Institute last year. Participating in the development of regional solutions to an increasing demand for mental health services heads the list of priorities that she has planned for herself and the centers.

“Agencies that provide mental health services have been devastated by budget cutbacks that have come about as a result of the economic crisis, leaving many people unserved or underserved,” Dr. Schaefer said. “Through the Counseling Centers, we’re going to do our part in meeting this need and I look forward to working with other organizations to increase the availability of no-cost or low-cost services to the people who need them.”

Explaining that the impact of funding cuts has been felt not only by patients but by psychology students who are competing for a dwindling number of training sites, Dr. Schaefer is relying on her work as a California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC) Board member to increase the practicum and internship opportunities available to Chicago School students. She is cultivating direct service delivery experiences in a variety of areas including family and couples therapy, child and adolescent psychology, gerontology, and substance abuse. Additionally, she is exploring opportunities to provide mindfulness and stress reduction training, as well as coaching for community businesses that are adjusting to the impact of the economic crisis.

The acquisition of the two centers has expanded the resources that The Chicago School is able to offer students at the West wood, Irvine, and Los Angeles campuses. Students benefit from a unique apprentice model that allows them to provide direct services under the supervision of licensed practitioners during their practicum experiences, while concurrently building their own client bases. Once they have graduated, alumni are then prepared to open private practices with an established group of patients.

Dr. Schaefer comes to her new position from Tarzana Treatment Centers, which provide integrated behavioral healthcare in Los Angeles County. While there, she served as supervisor of psychological services for the inpatient program and coordinator of mental health outpatient services, a program she developed. She also coordinated the doctoral and mental health training programs, and oversaw internship and practicum programs.