Melissa J. Zielinski, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, AR #17-11P
→ Curriculum Vitae ←  → Research Gate Profile ← 

PhD, Clinical Psychology
University of Arkansas | 2016

MA, Psychology
University of Arkansas | 2013

BA, Psychology
The College of New Jersey | 2011

Melissa J. Zielinski, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist currently living and working in Little Rock, Arkansas. She completed her doctoral degree in the APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She then transitioned to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in addiction research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and ultimately joined the university as faculty. Notably, Dr. Zielinski has also completed advanced training in her areas of expertise, including in both criminal justice research and implementation science through Brown University and Washington University in St. Louis respectively.

Dr. Zielinski has distinguished herself as a highly successful NIH-funded scientist; sought-after mentor and educator; and expert clinician in interventions for posttraumatic stress sequelae as described below:

Research: Dr. Zielinski’s research focuses on the intersections among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and interaction with the criminal legal system. To date, she has secured $1,463,987 in grant funding as a PI and $27,422,963 in grant funding as a Co-I (see CV for a full accounting of grants from NIDA, PCORI, NICHD, NCATS, SAMHSA, DOJ, and Arnold Ventures). She has been highly active in research dissemination, having authored 55 peer-reviewed publications and given over 80 conference presentations, talks, and trainings. Her work has been published in leading journals such as the American Journal of Public Health; JAMA Psychiatry; Trauma, Violence, and Abuse; Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy; and Psychological Assessment.

Clinical Practice: Dr. Zielinski’s clinical expertise is in evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions—particularly individual and group psychotherapy for traumatic stress sequelae and associated mental health conditions, such as PTSD, mood disorders, substance use disorders, and borderline personality disorder. She often works with survivors of assaultive trauma and is a national expert in trauma-focused therapy for people who are incarcerated or otherwise justice-involved. In 2021, the Arkansas Psychological Association (ArPA) presented her with the Medical Center Provider of the Year award, which honors individuals “who have made outstanding contributions to others in their community or state.”

Education: Teaching and mentoring the next generation of researchers is amongst Dr. Zielinski’s very highest priorities and, as such, educational endeavors are also core to her work. She has published on this topic with addiction research leaders nationally (Nowotny, Zielinski et al., 2020). Her commitment to and excellence in mentoring has also been honored publicly. In 2022, she was the inaugural recipient of her university’s Women Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award. She was also honored as a Phenomenal Women Award nominee in 2020 based on a submission from a mentee. Nationally and internationally, she supports educational efforts on traumatic stress and its sequelae through her role as Chair of Education Production for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, the premier organization for traumatic stress researchers and clinicians.

Leadership: Dr. Zielinski has been repeatedly invited and/or elected to leadership and service roles; notable examples her service as Secretary of the Arkansas Psychological Association and service on state committees (i.e., the Arkansas Suicide in Corrections Committee and the Safe Babies Court Team Advisory Board). She is also the Director of a large, independently-funded research laboratory, the Health and the Legal System: Research, Practice, and Policy Lab (HEALS Lab), and the Co-Director of an addiction research training program for postdoctoral fellows, medical students, and graduate students that is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.