Dr. Valerie Scelsa is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the advanced evaluation and treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, and co-occurring behavioral challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults. Recognizing that lasting change often involves the whole family system, Dr. Scelsa seamlessly pairs gold-standard youth interventions with specialized parent coaching. Her clinical style is exceptionally warm, supportive, and empowering, focused on dismantling complex fears while giving families a unified, actionable blueprint for long-term resilience.
Dr. Scelsa’s evidence-based practice is anchored by highly specialized behavioral modalities. For youth navigating OCD, phobias, and intense anxiety, she utilizes Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). To support parents navigating a child's anxious or defiant behaviors, she integrates cutting-edge, parent-led frameworks, including Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Parent Management Training (PMT). This multi-pronged approach ensures that both the individual and the parents have concrete tools to reduce accommodation and foster emotional regulation.
Dr. Scelsa earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Miami University, where she received comprehensive training across hospitals, schools, and community mental health centers. Most recently, she completed her advanced postdoctoral residency at Westchester Anxiety Treatment Psychological Services, sharpening her expertise in treating OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and disruptive behavior disorders. Her versatile clinical background also includes targeted treatment for depression, trauma-related disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as trichotillomania.