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Valerie A. Lemmon, Psy.D.

Professor of Psychology, Assistant Dean

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vlemmon@messiah.edu

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717-796-1800, ext. 2179

Interest and areas of expertise

Regarding teaching (clinical and counseling psychology; ethics; theology of vocation). Regarding research (body image and religiosity/spirituality; forgiveness; stress, trauma, and coping; religious/spiritual struggles; attachment to God). 

Education
  • B.A. Psychology (Gettysburg College)
  • M.S. Clinical Psychology (Millersville University of Pennsylvania)
  • M.S. and Psy.D. Clinical Psychology (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Classes I teach
  • Personality
  • Psychological Testing
  • Counseling Skills
  • Psychology Seminar
Profile

I completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and my post-doctoral internship at Riverside Associates. Because I want to remain current in the field of clinical psychology, I continue to conduct outpatient psychotherapy sessions and psychological evaluations on a part time basis. Believing that the processes of teaching and therapy have some similar qualities of guiding and encouraging, I like metaphors that reflect these qualities. In my “spare time” I enjoy biking, reading, and training my Shetland Sheepdogs. 

Recent Publications and Presentations
  • Knapp, S., & Lemmon, V. A. (2020, August 19). Religion (spirituality), ethics, and psychotherapy [Webinar]. Pennsylvania Psychological Association.
  • Knapp, S., & Lemmon, V. A. (2019). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy. The Pennsylvania Psychologist, 79(7), 1-4.
  • Knapp, S., & Lemmon, V. A. (2019). Should psychologists self-disclose their religious affiliation or beliefs to their patients? The Pennsylvania Psychologist, 79(7), 5, 9.
  • Lemmon, V. A. (2019, June). Religion, spirituality, ethics, and psychotherapy [Workshop]. Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Lemmon, V. A., & Thomson, J. (2019, April). Attachment to God related to body image, stress, and grit [Symposium]. Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (APA Division 36) Conference, Bowling Green, OH.
  • Lemmon, V. A., Skinner, S., & Thomson, J. (2018, February). Teaching grit and vocation across the curriculum [Workshop]. Lancaster Learns, Lancaster, PA.
  • Knauss, L. K., Kossmann, D. D., & Lemmon, V. A. (2017, October). What is (or what is not) working in the ethics code? [Workshop]. Ethics Educators Workshop of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Harrisburg, PA.
  • Lemmon, V. A., & Thomson, J. (2017, March). Teaching grit and vocation in psychology and biopsychology. Part of a Symposium entitled “Teaching Papers: Applied Research”. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
  • Homan, K. J., & Lemmon, V. A. (2016). Perceived relationship with God moderates the relationship between social comparison and body appreciation. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 19, 37-51. (Republished in a special issue “God in the bod: Charting the course of research on religiosity and the body.”)
  • Homan, K. J., & Lemmon, V. A. (2015). Perceived relationship with God moderates the relationship between social comparison and body appreciation. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 18, 425-439.
  • Homan, K. J., & Lemmon, V. A. (2014). Attachment to God and eating disorder tendencies: The mediating role of social comparison. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(4), 349-357.
  • Lemmon, V. A., & Homan, K. J. (2014, August 9). A mediation model of attachment to God, social comparison, and eating disorder tendencies [Poster Presentation]. American Psychological Association, Division 67 Religion, 2014 Annual Conference, Washington DC.

Awards

  • Dr. Robert and Marilyn Smith Outstanding Teaching Award received at the 2015 ɫۺϾþ College Commencement Ceremony, Mechanicsburg, PA.
  • Pennsylvania Psychological Association Ethics Educators Award received at the 2021 Ethics Educators Conference, Blue Bell, PA.