Banyan Tree Counseling and Wellness
Melissa is a second year doctoral student in
The College of Social Work at the University
of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her professional
background includes school social work,
juvenile justice and community mental health.
She is licensed in Florida and Connecticut and
has a private practice focused on working
with fellow neurodivergent queer folx.
Research Interests
Melissa’s research agenda explores policy
outcomes in LGBTQ+ health disparities, the
role and nature of community in LGBTQ+
individuals across the lifespan, and disability
justice in social work education through mixed
methods studies.
Presentations
Newman, M. (2025, March). Say Gay: A framework for
allyship and advocacy. Oral presentation. 2025 eVOLve
Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
Newman, M. (2025, May). Say Gay: A framework for
allyship and advocacy. Oral presentation. 2025 Social
Work Symposium, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN.
Greenfield, J., Holloway, B., Newman, M. Oral
presentation. (2025, October). ADHD, Autism, and other
Neurodivergence in Social Work Education: Creating
Neuro-affirming Social Work Programs. (Accepted) 2025
Council on Social Work Education National Program
Meeting, Washington, DC.
Publications
Lucio, R., De La Cruz, N., Mitchell B., Newman, M. (Under
review). Advancing a framework for LGBTQ+ youth mental
health support. Submitted to Sexuality Research and Social
Policy.
Ravi, K.E., Rai, A., Cronley, C., & Newman, M. (Under
review). A scoping review of nature exposure and
engagement among survivors of intimate partner
violence and their children. Submitted to
Ecopsychology.
Haselschwerdt, M. L., Ravi, K. E., & Newman, M. L. (Under
review). Does childhood coercive control exposure
explain the relationship between domestic violence
exposure and child abuse and maltreatment? Submitted
to Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma.
Teaching Philosophy
My personal teaching philosophy is based on active
and engaged learning rooted in critical, feminist, and
queer pedagogies. I approach teaching with a
Liberatory Consciousness mindset which requires
maintaining an awareness of my positionality while
acknowledging and pushing back against systemic
barriers which are in opposition to social justice and
encouraging my students to do the same. I hope to
serve as a mentor and advisor inspiring students from
underrepresented groups to pursue their educational
aspirations, and to increase their confidence that they
can succeed in their academic and professional goals.
Courses Taught
SW 563 Assessment and Evaluation of
Interpersonal Practice (Teaching Assistant)
SW 531 Trauma Theory and Practice
