About Dr. Melanie Watson

Dr. Melanie Watson received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (with a concentration in School Psychology) from Arizona State University. Currently a registered psychology associate working towards licensure, she also holds school psychologist certifications both nationally (NCSP) and through the Maryland State Department of Education. In addition, she is certified in cross-battery assessment (XB-C) and holds degrees in both Special Education (M.Ed.) and Child Development (B.S.). Dr. Watson has worked with children ranging in age from 4 months through high school.

Dr. Watson has spent 26 years working in public schools in Maryland as well as Arizona, Utah, and Ohio. After spending some time teaching students with special needs, Dr. Watson transitioned to the role of school psychologist, where she provided consultation in addition to conducting psychological assessments for the purpose of special education eligibility.

At Orchard Mental Health Group, Dr. Watson specializes in psychological assessments and has expertise in understanding the kinds of difficulties that interfere with a child’s ability to function both in and out of school. While she conducts assessments with children and adolescents of a variety of ages, she is particularly interested in and knowledgeable about the learning, behavioral, social-emotional, and developmental struggles of younger children.

Professionally, Dr. Watson is interested in Learning Disorders (including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia), Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, childhood emotional difficulties, and other behavior disorders. She is also interested in issues related to bilingual children, children of minority status, children who are “twice-exceptional,” as well as others that do not easily fit into any category. She enjoys figuring out the “puzzle” that each child presents to the world.