Melissa Mignogna, Ph.D.

About Me

I work with children and families who are dealing with symptoms that feel confusing, stressful, or hard to explain. Many parents come to me when their child’s struggles don’t fit neatly into one box, whether that’s anxiety, OCD, ADHD, feeding concerns, school refusal, or physical symptoms that don’t have a clear medical cause.

I understand how overwhelming it can be when your child is struggling and you’re not sure what’s driving it or how to help. My goal is to work closely with families to better understand the full picture of what’s going on and to create a thoughtful, practical plan that supports both the child and the parents.

I have a particular interest in working with children who are navigating obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention challenges, chronic medical conditions, and feeding difficulties, including picky eating. I also frequently support families dealing with school avoidance, social anxiety, recurrent pain, headaches, or other stress-related physical symptoms. In my work, I use evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

I also serve as the Director of Forensic Services at Thriving Child Center. I often help families who are navigating the court system, including during divorce or custody-related matters, when parents want to ensure their child feels safe, stable, and supported during an incredibly stressful time. I understand how difficult it can be to parent well when legal processes are involved, and I work carefully and thoughtfully to keep the child’s well-being at the center of the process. When appropriate, I am able to provide court-involved services and appear in court on behalf of families.

In addition to therapy, I conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations to help families gain clarity when questions feel unanswered. This includes assessments related to autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, intellectual functioning, diagnostic clarification, and complex presentations where emotions, behavior, and medical factors overlap. I value collaboration and regularly work with physicians, schools, attorneys, and other professionals so families feel supported across settings, not just in one office.

Training and Experience

Dr. Mignogna received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her predoctoral internship in the pediatric and child psychology track at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was also a member of the LEND program, a national training network focused on neurodevelopmental and related disabilities.

During her training at UAB, Dr. Mignogna gained extensive experience assessing and treating children with complex developmental, behavioral, medical, and psychological concerns. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, where she further developed her expertise in pediatric psychology and provided both outpatient therapy and consultation services for hospitalized children and adolescents.

Dr. Mignogna conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations, including assessments for autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and diagnostic clarification. She is a strong advocate for multidisciplinary care and regularly collaborates with physicians, schools, and other professionals to ensure children receive coordinated, effective support.

Publications

Cherry, A., Mignogna, M., Roddenberry Vaz, A., Hetherington, C., McCaffree, M., Anderson, M.P., & Gillaspy, S. (2016). The contribution of maternal psychological functioning to infant length of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. International Journal of Women’s Health, 8, 233-242.

Hartung, C., Cleveland, C., Mignogna, M., Correia, C., Canu, W., Lefler, E., Fedele, D., & Leffingwell, T., Clapp, J. (2013). Stimulant medication use in college students: Comparison of appropriate uses, misusers, and nonusers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27, 832-840.

Gillaspy, S. R., Leffingwell, T. R., Mignogna, M.R., Mignogna, J., Fedele, D. A., Bright, B. C., McCaffree, M. A., & Krodel, J. A. (2012). Testing of a web-based program to facilitate parental smoking cessation readiness in primary care. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 4, 2-7.

Wagener, T. L., Leffingwell, T. R., Mignogna, J., Mignogna, M., Weaver, C., Cooney, N., & Claborn, K. (2012). Randomized trial comparing computer-delivered and face-to-face personalized feedback interventions for high-risk drinking among college students. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 43, 260–267.

Wagener, T. L., Fedele, D.A., Mignogna, M., Hester, C.N., & Gillaspy, S.R. (2012). Psychological effects of dance-based group exergaming in obese adolescents. Pediatric Obesity, 7, e68-74.

Mignogna, M., & Lay, L. (2011). Human immunodeficiency virus. [In] S. Goldstein & J. Naglieri (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development (1st ed., Vols. 1-3) Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag.

Grice, J., Mignogna, M., & Badzinski, S. (2011). The Dynamic Analog Scale: A generic method for single-item measurement. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 481485.

Neumann, C. A., Leffingwell, T. R., Wagner, E. F., Mignogna, J., & Mignogna, M. J. (2009). Self-esteem and gender influence the response to risk information among alcohol using college students. Journal of Substance Use, 14, 353–363.

Leffingwell, T.R., Hendrix, B., Mignogna, M., & Mignogna, J. (2008). Ten things to love about drug courts. The Addictions Newsletter, 15, 11-13 Leedy, M., Jackson, M., & Callahan, J. (2007). Treating depression and compensatory narcissistic personality disorder in a man with chronic Lyme disease. Clinical Case Studies, 6, 430-442.

MELISSA MIGNOGNA IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST WITH THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS (TX LICENSE #36831). 

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