Providers
Jade B. Rafferty, Ph.D., LP (Founder)
Dr. Rafferty completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Kansas in 2010, internship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. She has also worked at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in the Cancer and Blood Disorders and Pain Departments. Dr. Rafferty is passionate about helping children and their families overcome distress and reach their full potential. As a Pediatric Psychologist, she especially loves working with children, adolescents, and families who are living with complex medical conditions. She feels honored to be invited into client’s lives during a time of intense vulnerability and enjoys watching her clients become aware of and build upon their resilience. She also values connecting with the entire family system to best serve the needs of her clients.
Dr. Rafferty’s expertise includes treating children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety, OCD, cancer, blood disorders, chronic pain, functional disorders, and other rare and complex medical conditions. Dr. Theodore Woodward is credited with coining the phrase “When you hear hoofbeats behind you, think horses, not zebras”. In medicine, the zebra represents rare disease and many medical students are taught to focus on the horses. Dr. Rafferty is passionate about working with zebras and finds each one’s unique stripes to be beautiful and fascinating. Although Dr. Rafferty primarily uses a CBT approach, she is also trained in other therapeutic modalities and techniques including Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Clinical Hypnosis.
Dr. Rafferty has met the requirements for PSYCPACT and is able to practice telepsychology in participating states.
Melissa Wheelock Pederson, Ph.D.
Dr. Pederson completed her psychology doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota in 1996. She has provided psychotherapy and assessment services in a wide variety of settings, including college counseling centers, psychiatry clinics, community centers, middle schools, private practice and psychotherapy research programs. She has extensive experience training and supervising professionals and psychologists-in-training. She was a former tenured associate professor at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Professional Psychology, and has taught at other graduate programs (U of MN) and undergraduate institutions (Macalester College).
Dr. Pederson’s therapeutic style has been described as warm and affirming, as she helps clients to more clearly identify their struggles and to develop strategies to overcome stumbling blocks in order to live more fully into the life they imagine. Using compassion and creativity, she works with clients to develop an individualized treatment plan guided by science-based therapies, clinical experience and client wisdom. She believes in the importance of helping clients to develop tools to take their healing into their own hands with a focus on mental, physical and spiritual wellness. She has a strong background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Individual Psychotherapy (IPT), and implements a number of other modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Compassion-Focused Therapy. Dr. Pederson provides services for teens and adults of all ages.
Most of her work as a therapist has been with women struggling to overcome depression, anxiety, eating disorders and trauma. She is passionate about helping clients who are experiencing difficult life transitions, including grief and loss, infertility, and separation/divorce, as well as those experiencing various forms of caregiver stress (e.g., complicated pregnancies, parenting, caring for aging adults).
WE’RE HIRING: Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Pediatric Psychologist, or Family Therapist
We are looking to add a compassionate and dedicated provider to our practice to better meet the high demand for mental health services in our community. The ideal candidate will have prior experience working with children, adolescents, and families. We are interested in a candidate who works well on a team and enjoys consulting with other specialists in the community. Moreover, we hope to find a provider who is interested in committing to our practice and community by building long-term relationships. We invite candidates who are looking for a family friendly and collegial environment. The candidate must be licensed or license eligible in the state of Minnesota. The candidate will be required to provide some to most services via telemedicine. This position is for a part- or full-time Independent Contractor and thus does not include benefits. Interested applicants should send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Rafferty at j.rafferty@hopepsychologypractice.com.
