Melissa Shepherd-Williams

Melissa Shepherd-Williams serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Marriage & Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College's School of Cultural and Family Psychology in Pasadena, California. She also works as a clinician at the California Institute of the Arts. Her professional affiliations include membership in CAMFT, Vice Presidency of the International Society of Black Latinos, and Board Membership with Viva Panama Organization.

Dr. Shepherd-Williams specializes in culturally contextualized therapy with particular expertise in African American, Afro Latinx, and Latinx communities. Her research interests focus on Marriage & Family Therapy, Cultural Psychology, Burnout Prevention, Diversity and Inclusion, and Trauma Studies. As a native of Panama with Caribbean roots who speaks fluent Spanish, she brings valuable multicultural perspectives to her clinical and academic work.

Her publications demonstrate a strong focus on burnout recovery and joyful living. Through her books "From Burnout to Bliss" and "Living Deliciously: Recipes to Welcome Joy into Our Lives," she has created practical tools for professionals experiencing burnout and individuals seeking more fulfilling lives. Her work emphasizes the importance of cultural and historical context in understanding personal and professional challenges.

Her notable professional engagements include:

• Workshop presentations for the Los Angeles Police Department psychologists, Writers' Guild of America, UCLA Human Resources, and Latino Behavioral Health Institute
• Presentations at SFV-CAMFT's "Healing the Helping Professional" (September 2023) and the worldwide "Living Deliciously Dive In Festival" (September 2022)
• Media appearances on Telemundo's Hoy Día and Noticias Telemundo

Dr. Shepherd-Williams' community service includes significant work as Vice-President of the International Society of Black Latinos, dedicated to expanding knowledge about Latinos in the African Diaspora. Her teaching philosophy centers on exploration of cultural context and developing meaningful clinical conversations through curiosity about each person's unique story.