Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology

Welcome to my homepage at Western Illinois University. From here you can access information about my professional background, classes that I teach and examples of syllabi, and research that is currently being conducted in my laboratory. You can also find information about the Clinical/Community Mental Health (C/CMH) Master's program and the Psychology Clinic, as well as committees and professional organizations of which I am a member. I have also provided a page which lists my favorite psychology links to websites outside of WIU.

I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in August of 2005 from Northern Illinois University after completing my doctoral clinical internship at the Counseling and Student Development Center at Northern Illinois University. I am also a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois. My dissertation investigate the role of peritraumatic dissociation, or dissociative experiences such as derealization and depersonalization that occur close in time to an event, on physiological reactivity to reminders of rape experiences. My current research focus is on trauma and coping styles, specifically the relationship between avoidant and unhealthy coping styles after sexual trauma. My teaching interests include introductory psychology, personality and adjustment, abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, career counseling, trauma and crisis, and ethics and multiculturalism. I also supervise students in the C/CMH Master's program and provide individual and family therapy. More information about my teaching, research, and clinical work can be found throughout this site.

Contact Information:

Office: 131F Waggoner Hall
Lab: 140 Waggoner Hall
Phone: (309) 298-2604
Fax: (309) 298-2179
Email: MD-Hetzel@wiu.edu

Office Hours:
Monday 1-2pm; Tuesday 1-3pm, Wednesday 2-3pm, or by appointment