Michelle Leon, Ph.D.

MICHELLE LEON, Ph.D.
MICHELLE LEON, Ph.D.
Dr. Michelle Leon earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and public health from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University. Dr. Leon is a bilingual (Spanish & English) therapist. She has trained in outpatient and inpatient settings and community mental health clinics with children, adolescents, and adults. Throughout her clinical training, Dr. Leon has gained experience working with individuals experiencing a broad range of problems, from adjustment difficulties to severe mental illness. She has training in conducting psychological assessments, ranging from psycho-educational testing to forensic and immigration evaluations. Further, she specializes in trauma-based interventions and helping individuals who have experienced adverse life events.

Dr. Leon's goal is to offer an empathic, safe, and validating therapeutic space from which we can explore and collaboratively work to heal what ails individuals and/or their loved ones. Her approach in psychotherapy is to provide individuals with an environment that nurtures emotional, mental, and relational growth. Dr. Leon strives to instill in her clients the belief that they have the agency to empower themselves and one another to change and harness the relationships and quality of life they envision for themselves. In therapy, she uses therapeutic strategies such as cognitive/behavioral, psychodynamic, relational, exploration, and mindfulness techniques to help patients heal from the problems that prevent them from thriving and coping with adversity.

MICHELLE LEON, M.A.

Relevant Trainings and Affiliations
Society for Child and Adolescent Psychology
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
National Latinx Psychology Association 
American Psychology Law-Society
Training in Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
Training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training
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Select Awards and Grants
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Grants in Aid (2022)
Research Support Grant, Fordham University (2019, 2020, 2021)
 
Select Publications/Presentations
  • Rasmussen, A., Leon, M., & Elklit, A. (2022). Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire Across Nine Adolescent Samples. Assessment, 10731911221101912.
Schoenthaler, A., Leon, M., Butler, M., Steinhaeuser, K., & Wardzinski, W. (2020). Development and Evaluation of a Tailored Mobile Health Intervention to Improve Medication Adherence in Black Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes: Pilot Randomized Feasibility Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(9), e17135.
Rasmussen, A., Romero, S., Leon, M., Verkuilen, J., Morales, P., Martinez‐Maganalles, S., & García‐Sosa, I. (2020). Measuring Trauma Exposure: Count Versus Variety of Potentially Traumatic Events in a Binational Sample. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(6), 973-983.
Long, K. A., Pariseau, E. M., Muriel, A. C., Chu, A., Kazak, A. E., Leon, M., & Alderfer, M. A. (2017). Psychosocial screening for siblings of children with cancer: Barriers and preferences. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5(4), 364.
Leon, M., Feuerstahler, L., Romero, S., & Rasmussen, A. (2021, November). Susto and Cross-Cultural and Cross-National Differences. Paper presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Virtual Conference.
Jimenez, M., Leon, M., Weinberger, E., Collins, A., Rosenfeld, B., Keller, A. (2021, November). Contextualizing the Mental Health of Migrant Subgroups from the 2018 Central American Caravan: Personal Trauma, Economic Hardship, and Sociopolitical Violence. Paper presented as part of symposium titled Understanding the Impact of Contextual and Psychological Factors on Refugee Mental Health presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Virtual Conference.
Leon, M., & Rasmussen, A. (2021, August). Migration Factors and Mental Health in Central American Migrants. Paper presented at Society for the Psychological Studies of Social Issues Virtual Conference.
Leon, M., Feuerstahler, L., Romero, S., & Rasmussen, A. (2019, November). Cross-Cultural Comparison of PTSD and Posttraumatic Growth Using Item Response Theory: Comparisons between Mexican and U.S. Participants. Paper presented in symposium titled Cultural Psychology Approaches to Studying Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Conference, Boston, MA.