Melissa L. Whitson, Ph.D.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, discusses why we look forward to watching cheesy holiday movies.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says parents should discuss with their children the importance of telling them if anyone makes them uncomfortable online or in person.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor and chair of the M.A. in Community Psychology program, comments on what questions parents should consider when threats of violence close their children's schools.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says all children need to have digital literacy when it comes to using the internet, but she is not sure how this can be enforced.

In the Media

Robert McDonald and Melissa Whitson discuss the rise in weapons found in high schools and elem entary schools in Connecticut, offering some advice and warning signs for parents, students, and teachers. McDonald is a lecturer in criminal justice, and Whitson is a professor of psychology.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor, and coordinator of M.A. in Community Psychology program, says it is not surprising that children curious about a subject will use the internet to find additional information, but they don’t always understand what they are seeing.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, comments on maintaining a sense of normalcy for children when they have seen or heard of these violent events.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says there needs to be a distinction between someone with mental health issues and someone who has violent behavior.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, talks about how you can help your children with the psychological trauma from the recent stabbing at a Connecticut high school and the mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says those who may need help in dealing with the trauma over the mass shooting at a Texas school or a recent stabbing in a Hartford high school should call 211 for resources for mental health issues.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, Gabby Picon ’24, and Paige McCaffery ’22, are talking about the leaked Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says that family therapy and child-play therapy may help parents and caregivers due to particular circumstances and experiences.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, says conversations with your children will help them understand why wearing masks might no longer be necessary at school.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, discusses the mental health anxieties that are ongoing as the pandemic continues, and she offers ways to deal with the stress.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, talks about how the TikTok video went viral across the country to threaten schools.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, comments on setting aside controversial issues for the holidays diplomatically.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, talks about how to avoid talking politics at the Thanksgiving holiday get-togethers.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, comments on the teacher's pet mentality and the danger of focusing on that validation as an adult.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, discusses the psychology that went into the design of the baby carriers.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the anxiety as the return to masking begins.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on changes in the workplace and how employees are dealing with it.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, talks about the reasons why some people who have been vaccinated continue to wear their face masks outdoors.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on changing up a routine to help children form new habits.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the importance of studying the effects of the pandemic on front line workers in years to come.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, talks about being proactive in reporting threatening behavior to authorities.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, talks about the reasons couples may be reluctant to start a family.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on focusing on activities that you can control.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on children missing out on peer negotiation, problem solving and general social skills while schools are still closed.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments that it is helpful to know you are not alone when feeling stress and anxiety.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, talks about the mental health impact of the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and some ways to lessen symptoms.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on changes this holiday season due to the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on having the right tools in mind to have an effective conversation about race.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on how television shows may see the fight against COVID-19 differently and may actually be calming.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on some techniques to stay grounded.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on why millennials are choosing not to buy diamond engagement rings.

In the Media

Michael Urban, senior lecturer, director of the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program, and Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comment on how to safely trick or treat with children.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, assistant professor of psychology, discusses the impact of the pandemic on mental health.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on different strategies to relieve work from home stress.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments that the Ford Motor Co. campaign is a positive step for families and the community to take care of each other.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, talks about how mental health is just as important as physical health during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, comments on the emotional and mental health effects from the pandemic for years to come.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the how the tropical storm power outages have added stress to the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, assistant professor of psychology, comments on what people can do to help when a natural disaster occurs during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on how couples need to feel connected during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the added pressures of working from home.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the stress of making decisions for multiple generations during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on reasons why a positive test result may make people afraid.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on how to cope with anxiety during the pandemic.’

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on coping mechanisms amid the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, answers questions on helping children during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, discusses how local leaders can help their community during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on how healthcare workers can be overwhelmed during the pandemic.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, discusses the impact the pandemic is taking on mental health.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on knowing an end date to the pandemic will lessen anxiety.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the anxiety and stress from the quarantine.

In the Media

Melissa Whitson, associate professor of psychology, comments on the psychological harm of the lockdown.

At the University of New Haven, assistant professor of psychology Melissa Whitson and her small, white pooch Fenway are making themselves available to students three days during finals, starting Thursday.

The only sound in the University of New Haven library right now is a collar jingling when a small white dog named Fenway goes to work.

When an event is covered nonstop, every time you see it it can be traumatizing all over again, Whitson said.

The Boston Marathon bombing sent me back to Don DiLillo's novel 'Underworld', in which he describes the experience of watching a shooting be replayed frequently on the news.

Even for those not directly affected by these events, watching these events in a brief span of time takes a toll on the psyche, according to area mental health experts.