Vanessa Hissam, M.A.  (she/her/hers)

Title: Psychology Intern
Dept/Program: Counseling & Testing Center
Phone: (330) 972-7082
Email: vhissam@uakron.edu

Biography

Vanessa Hissam, M.A.  (she/her/hers) is a psychology intern completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Marshall University in West Virginia. Her program has an emphasis on working with rural and underserved populations. She has practicum experience working in various settings including a university psychology clinic, an outpatient psychiatry clinic, and an outpatient OBGYN office. She works from a cognitive behavioral and person-centered perspective and remains flexible with treatment approaches to meet individual client needs. She has utilized therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and interpersonal therapy. Her clinical interests include working with a diverse student population with concerns related to anxiety, depression, culture, identity, and relationships. Vanessa enjoys working with students and helping them navigate this stage of life. In session, she values staying present with each client and providing a sense of safety and support. Recently, Vanessa presented her research titled “The Impact of Pregnancy and Childbirth-Related Health Disparities on Black women” at the 2023 APA conference and holds research interests in the well-being of marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her cat, appreciating nature, and watching TV and movies. She is excited to connect and work with the University of Akron community this year.