Robyn Mehlenbeck

Robyn Mehlenbeck

Robyn Mehlenbeck

Director, Mason's Center for Community Health

Clinical Professor

Clinical Psychology: adolescent, medical, eating, diabetes

Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck is a Child and Adolescent Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and Fellow of the American Psychological Association who specializes in working with adolescents and kids with medical conditions, including Type I Diabetes. Her current research focuses on weight management for Latino youth and families. Currently, she is a Clinical Professor at Mason and the Director of the GMU Center for Community Mental Health, a clinic committed to training graduate students and providing evidence-based, accessible services for the Northern Virginia community.

Prior to coming to Mason, she was a Clinical Associate Professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and worked at the Hasbro Children’s Partial Hospital Program, where she served as the Director of Training. Committed to the Clinical Science Model, Dr. Mehlenbeck engages in clinical work, teaching, and research, with a multidisciplinary focus. She has trained medical students, psychology interns and fellows, pediatrics and psychiatry residents and fellows, and developmental-behavioral pediatricians.

Dr. Mehlenbeck has several publications and has presented nationally and internationally in the areas of pediatric obesity and eating disorders. She is currently the president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP).  Dr. Mehlenbeck is also a reviewer panel member and mentor reviewer for the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, and the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.  Finally, Dr. Mehlenbeck has a strong commitment to the community, serving on committees across Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.  She is currently participating on a state-wide committee (VMAP) to increase access to mental health services for children throughout the state through pediatric practices.  

Current Research

VALE - A Family-Based Empowerment Program to Target Early Treatment for

Childhood Obesity in Low Income Latino Communities

Website: https://vale.gmu.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProgrammaVALEHKNova

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comunidad.vale/

 

Selected Publications

Merrigan, J.J., Gallo,S., Fields,J.B., Mehlenbeck,R., & Jones, M.T (2020). Relationship of body composition, cardio-metabolic measures, and fitness assessments in young, obese Latino children. International Journal of Exercise Science,13(3), 488-500. PMID: 32509118

Hames, JL, Bell, DJ, Perez-Lima, LM, Holm-Denoma, JM, Rooney, T, Charles, NE, Thompson, SM, Mehlenbeck, RS, Tawfik, SH., Fondacaro, KM,  Simmons, KT, &  Hoersting, RC.  (2020) Navigating Uncharted Waters: Considerations for Training Clinics in the Rapid Transition to Telepsychology and Telesupervision During COVID-19.  Journal of Psychotherapy Integration.

Weitzman, C., Augustyn, M., Froehlich, T., Mehlenbeck, R., Mendelsohn, A. L., Nielsen, B. A., Soares, N., Voigt, R.G., Walton, J.,  Zlomke, K., Fogler, J.,; Keder, R. D., Ratliff-Schaub, K., Wallis, K. E.,  (2021). Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration. A Statement of Priorities from the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.  Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 

Merrigan, JJ, Volgenau, KM, McKay, A., Gallo, S., Mehlenbeck, R.S. & Jones, M. (2021). Bi-directional associations among physical activity and sleep in overweight/obese elementary age Latino children.  Sports (v9, issue 2).

Trojanowski, P., Niehaus, C., Mehlenbeck, R.S., Fischer, S. (Accepted May 2021). Parenting and Psychological Health in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Systematic Review.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

Grants and Fellowships

6/18 – 6/19  Potomac Health Foundation Grant:  Direct Cost $127,000

A Family-Based Empowerment Program to Target Early Treatment for

Childhood Obesity in Low Income Latino Communities, second year

Co-Investigator – 10% time (PI:  Dr. Sina Gallo)

 

7/18- 6/19  Dominion Energy Foundation Grant:  Direct Cost $60,000

Award to provide comprehensive PTSD assessments for veterans in conjunction with the VA Department of Veteran Services

 

6/19 Fairfax County Interdisciplinary Initiative Grant:  Direct Cost $10,000

Award to support placing an advanced doctoral student in a Pediatrician’s office to provide onsite behavioral health services and interdisciplinary care to children.

6/19 – 6/20  Potomac Health Foundation Grant:  Direct Cost $127,177

A Family-Based Empowerment Program to Target Early Treatment for Childhood Obesity in Low Income Latino Communities, third year

Co-Investigator – 5% time (PI:  Dr. Sina Gallo)

Courses Taught

Seminars presented as part of graduate student training at the GMU Center for Community Mental Health

Psy 881 Advanced Practicum - Third Year Clinical Practicum

Psy 430 - Undergraduate Practicum in Psychology at the GMU CPS

Recent Presentations

    1. “A Digital World: Ethical Considerations of Electronic Communication.”  Three hour CEU workshop presented to Northern Virginia Clinical Psychologists.  June, 2019.

     

    1. “Introduction to Case Conceptualization, Treatment Planning and Managing Family Dynamics.” Interactive 6 hour workshop for community clinicians as part of the Fairfax County Training Consortium, December 2019.

     

    1. “Managing Complex Family Dynamics in the Medical Setting.” 2 hour workshop for medical professionals at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia, January 2020. 

     

    1. “Managing Stress and Giving to Others: A familyworkshop and volunteer afternoon!” 2 hour workshop for community members and their children at GMU CPS, January 2020.

     

    1. MATCH – ADTC, Modular Approach to Treatment for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Conduct Issues. Co-Led 3 Day Training provided to 62 clinicians in Fairfax County as part of the Fairfax County Training Consortium.  March 2020.

     

    1. “Coping during COVID – Maintaining Sanity during a Pandemic.” Invited lecture for COVID-19 and the Mason Impact course, July 2020. 

     

    1. “Mental health in a ” Invited lecture for Psychology of COVID course, Mason Psychology, Fall 2020.

     

    1. “All-Staff Training: Recognizing Signs of Suicidal Ideation for Veterans and in General.” Invited presentation for Legal Services of Northern Virginia, January 2021.

In the Media


Dissertations Supervised

James D. Doorley, The Effects of Coping, Savoring, and Self-compassion on Daily Psychological Resilience among College Athletes (2020)