Biography
Melissa C. Blackwell Psy.D.
About
Dr. Blackwell is a Licensed Psychologist and Neuropsychologist with experience working with a wide range of populations across the lifespan. Dr. Blackwell has provided neuropsychological services in a variety of outpatient, forensic, and hospital settings, including Children’s National Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Institute, and Kennedy Krieger Institute. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Washington, DC, completing an APA-approved internship in the Neuropsychology Division of Henry Ford Health System. She then completed a two-year, APPCN-approved postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Blackwell returned to the Baltimore-Washington area and has practiced in Columbia, MD, since 2013. She specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, and adults with diverse learning, neurological, behavioral, social-emotional, and developmental challenges. Her clinical interests include the connections between ADHD and anxiety, autism spectrum disorder and gender, learning disabilities, brain injuries, and other acquired medical conditions. Dr. Blackwell enjoys working collaboratively with families, educators, and healthcare providers to understand a person’s unique strengths and areas of need and maximize treatment and educational outcomes.
Dr. Blackwell also enjoys her time as an active board member of Camp Attaway. This Howard County therapeutic program provides services for children with complex emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as their families.
Dr. Blackwell resides in Howard County with her husband and young son.
Education
Argosy University, Washington DC
APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Program
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Clinical Concentration: Neuropsychology
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bachelor of Arts – Major in Psychology; Minor in Judaic Studies
Overview of test
Assessment's Content
Each evaluation is tailored to the individual, but typically explores several key areas of brain functioning through structured tasks, interviews, and standardized testing.
Content covered in our comprehensive assessment:
- Intellectual and cognitive ability
- Attention and concentration
- Adaptive functioning
- Working and long-term memory
- Language comprehension and expression
- Visual–spatial and motor skills
- Executive functioning
- Academic skills
Cognitive and Intellectual Functioning
Assesses overall thinking skills like reasoning, problem-solving, and how information is processed.
Language and Communication
Looks at both receptive (understanding) and expressive (speaking, writing) language abilities.
Attention and Executive Functioning
Evaluates focus, impulse control, organization, and flexible thinking—skills often affected in ADHD.
Visual-Spatial and Motor Skills
Evaluates the ability to perceive, interpret, and organize visual information, as well as fine motor coordination.
Memory and Learning
Assesses short-term, long-term, and working memory capabilities (e.g., how well someone can retain, retrieve, and use new information).
Adaptive Functioning
Measures emotional regulation, social interaction, coping skills, and how well someone manages daily responsibilities.
Overview
Forensic Neuropsychology Services
NeuroBehavioral Associates offers comprehensive forensic neuropsychology services tailored to legal, medical, and insurance-related matters. Our experienced team includes clinicians with specialized training in forensic contexts, serving individuals from infancy through adulthood. Whether the concern involves brain injury, developmental trauma, or psychological harm, we provide objective, evidence-based evaluations to support legal decision-making.
Forensic cases we have experience in:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Hypoxic-Anoxic Brain Injury
- Birth-related neurological injury
- Medical malpractice
- Psychological trauma and PTSD
- Workmen’s compensation and disability claims