Dr. Melissa Mignogna
Licensed Psychologist
PSYPACT Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology
Certified PCIT Therapist, PCIT International
Director of Forensic Services, Thriving Child Center
When families come to PCIT, they are often dealing with more than just a child who is not listening. Many are navigating the aftermath of trauma, separation, divorce, or court involvement. Dr. Mignogna is uniquely positioned to help these families because she brings together two areas of deep expertise that are rarely found in the same clinician: pediatric psychology and forensic psychology.
Dr. Mignogna understands firsthand how much is at stake when a child's behavior and a family's legal situation are intertwined. Her goal in PCIT is to give parents the tools they need to strengthen their relationship with their child and manage challenging behaviors effectively, even in the most stressful family circumstances.
PCIT Training and Experience
Dr. Mignogna completed her PCIT certification training directly under Dr. Leah Clionsky and Dr. Amanda N'zi, both certified PCIT trainers. She brings over seven years of experience integrating PCIT principles into her clinical work across multiple settings including private practice, community mental health, and pediatric hospital settings.
Her PCIT work is especially well suited for families who are dealing with behavioral challenges in the context of divorce, custody disputes, trauma exposure, or court involvement. She understands how legal stress affects parent-child relationships and how to help families make meaningful progress even under difficult circumstances.
PCIT is available virtually through PCIT Experts in all PSYPACT states.
Clinical and Forensic Background
Dr. Mignogna earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Child Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her predoctoral internship on the Child Psychology track at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she trained on interdisciplinary teams across multiple pediatric specialty clinics including autism, ADHD, developmental disabilities, and behavioral health.
She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, where she worked across numerous specialty services including pain management, transplant medicine, cystic fibrosis, gastroenterology, and chronic illness. This training gave her an unusually deep understanding of how medical complexity, developmental differences, and psychological challenges intersect in children and families.
Dr. Mignogna also completed the Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders program, known as LEND, at the University of Alabama, a nationally recognized training program focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities.
During her training she also conducted PCIT with foster parents and mothers in residential substance abuse treatment under the supervision of Beverly Funderburk, Ph.D. and Melanie Nelson, Ph.D., two of the most recognized names in the PCIT field. She completed additional training and supervision under Dr. Leah Clionsky and Dr. Nizete-Ly Valles at PCIT Experts.
Forensic Expertise
In addition to her PCIT and clinical work, Dr. Mignogna serves as the Director of Forensic Services at Thriving Child Center. She is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and holds a Reunification Therapist Certification completed in 2026. She has extensive training in parenting plan evaluations, child custody evaluations, reunification therapy, and court-involved family services.
For families who need PCIT in the context of a custody dispute, divorce, or court-ordered treatment, Dr. Mignogna is one of the few PCIT providers in the country who can also serve as a forensic clinician. This combination is rare and can be enormously valuable for families navigating both clinical and legal systems simultaneously.
Her forensic and PCIT services are available virtually in all PSYPACT states.
Research and Publications
Dr. Mignogna has published peer-reviewed research across multiple areas including pediatric psychology, child and adolescent behavioral health, and clinical methodology. Selected publications include:
Who Dr. Mignogna Works Best With
Dr. Mignogna is especially well suited for:
Families who are navigating PCIT in the context of divorce, separation, or custody disputes and need a clinician who understands both the clinical and legal dimensions of their situation.
Children with complex presentations including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, developmental differences, or trauma histories where standard approaches need to be thoughtfully adapted.
Families who have been involved with the court system and need a clinician who can collaborate with attorneys, amicus counsel, and other legal professionals while keeping the child's wellbeing at the center.
Parents who want a highly trained, evidence-based clinician who brings a depth of pediatric and forensic expertise that goes well beyond standard PCIT training.
Credentials
PhD in Clinical Psychology, Child Clinical Psychology specialization, Oklahoma State University, 2011
Predoctoral Internship, Child Psychology Track, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2011-2012
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pediatric Psychology, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, 2011-2013
LEND Fellow, University of Alabama Civitan International Research Center
Certified PCIT Therapist, PCIT International
Reunification Therapist Certification, Summit BHC and Justitia Foundation, 2026
Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
PSYPACT Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology
MELISSA MIGNOGNA IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST WITH THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS (TX LICENSE #36831).
For information on how to verify a license.