Melina Wald, PHD

Melina Wald, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist specialized in providing care to children, adolescents, young adults and families. Dr. Wald is trained in several evidence-based therapies to assist in management of anxiety, mood disorders, and behavioral problems, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A), Parent and Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ExRP). She has also worked extensively with caregivers to assist in improving communication and parenting skills. Dr. Wald’s strong training in evidence-based psychotherapy allows her to develop a unique and tailored treatment plan for each child, adolescent, and family.

In addition to Dr. Wald’s broad training in child and adolescent and young adult psychology, she has extensive experience in working with individuals across the gender and sexuality spectrum. She is highly skilled in the evaluation of gender dysphoria, multidisciplinary care for gender non-conforming and transgender individuals, and family support for parents of gender expansive children. She has also worked with many adolescents and adults who have pursued medical interventions, such as hormone therapy and gender affirming surgery, providing support and guidance throughout the course of these medical procedures.

Dr. Wald is the Clinical Director of the Gender Identity Program at Columbia University Medical Center. The program is devoted to improving the lives of gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, and transgender children, adolescents, and adults by providing the highest quality care to assist in managing gender distress and any co-occurring mental health challenges. In her role at the Gender Identity Program, Dr. Wald completes evaluations of gender dysphoria, provides affirming psychotherapy related to gender distress for both children and families, and if needed provides evidence-based services to assist in managing psychological distress. Dr. Wald also oversees clinical services within the program and is involved in the teaching and supervision of psychiatry trainees.

Dr. Wald received her doctoral degree in child clinical psychology at Auburn University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). During her internship and fellowship, she received focused training in LGBT mental health care. From 2015-2018, Dr. Wald worked as a staff psychologist within the Department of Pediatric Psychiatry at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. In her role as staff, she worked with and advocated for the needs of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming children, adolescents, and families.