Dr. Lavelle earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada.  She relocated to Central Florida in 2004 to attend the American Psychological Association (APA) Accredited doctoral training program at the Florida School of Professional Psychology in Tampa.  She earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology with honors from that university in 2006, before attaining her doctoral degree in clinical psychology with honors in 2009.  Her dissertation was concerned with the integration of eastern and western treatment methods as they relate to mental health.

Doctoral internship was completed at Pacific Clinics in Pasadena, California, where Dr. Lavelle provided outpatient clinical and forensic services. In 2009, a residency was taken at Psychological and Neurobehavioral Services in Florida, with a focus on forensic and clinical assessment. Dr. Lavelle has been in private practice in Lakeland, Florida since 2011. Her practice has provided assessment and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Lavelle has also provided training and supervision for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees.  She has simultaneously served as an adjunct instructor at the Florida School of Professional Psychology, where she taught doctoral level classes in psychological assessment. 

While managing a successful private practice, supervising trainees, and raising a family, Dr. Lavelle earned a postdoctoral master’s degree in psychopharmacology from Farleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in 2020. 

Dr. Lavelle is recognized as a certified forensic examiner in the state of Florida, and she is regularly called upon by the courts to serve as an expert witness in matters of competency, sanity, and mitigating factors as pertaining to mental health.  Dr. Lavelle is also recognized by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) as a specialist in matters of intellectual disability and developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She has also worked with other agencies such as the Department of Disability Services, Department of Children and Families, and the Child Protection Team.  Dr. Lavelle provides psychological evaluations for the Veterans Administration (VA), evaluating veterans who have concerns regarding mental health disabilities such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Physicians also refer patients to Dr. Lavelle for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, as well as presurgical assessments.  In addition, Dr. Lavelle provides psychoeducational testing services for individuals who suspect they or their children are afflicted with learning disorders such as dyslexia, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other processing issues. She provides assessment, treatment planning and psychotherapy for individuals who are afflicted by depression, anxiety, trauma, and situational stress.  In addition to her clinical and training work, Dr. Lavelle has enjoyed providing trainings and speaking at conferences on a range of topics from developing bonds to screening for neurocognitive disorders.

Dr. Lavelle is a member of the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychology and is thrilled to have joined Southern Psychological Specialists. She currently provides psychotropic medication management, psychotherapy, and psychological assessment services.