Felipa T. Chavez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology

Florida Intstitute of Technology

School of Psychology 
chavezf@fit.edu

Dr. Chavez's clinical experience focuses on issues related to children and families, such as parenting children with behavioral, emotional, and medical problems. She possesses a strong clinical background in early child development and extensive experience in doing therapy with maltreated children. She has received extensive training and experience in pediatric psychology, behavioral medicine, and neuropsychological testing. Research Interests include pursuing a program of research reflecting issues of family functioning as seen through parent child interactions, child behavioral outcomes, parental disciplinary strategies for rearing children, as wells as parental psychological well being and marital quality. Equally of interest is how issues of culture affect parenting and family functioning.

Dr. Chavez's Home Page

Apryl Alexander received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Tech and her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Radford University. Her current research interests are in sexual abuse and domestic violence, trauma, and forensic psychology.

Amber Hasty has a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Alabama. Her current research interest is eating disorders in adolescents. She currently works with teens at the Family Learning Program and has also worked with children with Autism for approximately 2 years.

Jessie Giglio has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Sciences and Psychology from Florida State University. She is interested in working with children and families with a variety of difficulties and is currently beginning research in the area of child sexual abuse and the perceptions of these victims by other people.

Rachel Unger earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Her current career and research interests are working with behavioral disorders in adolescents and teens, specifically Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Sarah Schewitz earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Child Development and Family Studies from University of Maine. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. Sarah's current research and clinical interests include parent-child interaction therapy, marriage and sex therapy, and family therapy. Sarah also has experience working as a behavioral therapist for families with autistic children.

Angela Arteaga graduating from Brevard Community College with a two year degree and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Florida Institute of Technology. She plans on pursuing a graduate degree and hopes to work in the education field. Her interests include educational psychology, abnormal psychology and autism.

Maria Silva earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology from Florida State University. Her current research interests include Family and Child Therapy, in addition to Marriage and Couples Therapy. She has worked with children and teens who have been sexually abused.

Jackie McGriff is currently a junior at Florida Institute of Technology. She is pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Meteorology. She is currently working under Dr. Chavez as a research assistant. She wants to chase tornadoes as part of research while pursuing her Ph.D. She would like to research methods for getting tornado data, learning about them, and, thus, creating a better tornado warning system.

Rebekah Travis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Her current research interests include effective child and family therapy and child psychopathology.

Briana Hoffman received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida. Her current research interests include child and family therapy with an emphasis on child sexual abuse.

Donna Burrowes earned her undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies at the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology at the Citadel. Her current research interests are in children and family, specifically treating victims of abuse and trauma.

Kristi Day earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida where she graduated with honors in the major. For the past five years, she has been implementing programs for verbal behavior and skills development for children with autism and related disorders. Her current research interests include public perception of the therapeutic relationship and its impact, and children and families.

Almamarina Robles earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Saint Leo University. Currently her research interests are in Forensic assessment, particularly Personality assessment and its relation to Termination of Parental Rights and Child Custody Evaluations.

Deborah Gambles earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at Grambling State University in Lousiana and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. Her current research interests are in family therapy, trauma,specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Forensic Assessment.

Christine Salinas obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology with minors in Clinical Psychology, School Counseling and Women's Studies. She will obtain her Master's in Clinical Psychology this May and is currently in the Neuropsychology track. She has a strong dedication to working with children and families, particularly Spanish speaking populations. Her current research interests are in sports related concussion, pediatric ADHD as well as neuropsychological performance of children with Epilepsy.