Melissa Cordero, PsyD, RYT, is a Spanish-speaking bilingual and bicultural certified yoga teacher and licensed psychologist. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor UCLA, specializing in trauma and working with youth engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Dr. Cordero has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 15 years and has integrated this into her therapy with clients. She currently works as a psychologist at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and runs a small private practice in Santa Barbara.

Dr. Cordero specializes in working with underrepresented individuals impacted by interpersonal, complex, and collective trauma, as well as multicultural, spirituality, and diversity issues. Her areas of focus include the application of somatic, mindfulness, and empirically-supported interventions to underserved populations. Dr. Cordero is trained in non-verbal trauma treatments, which include Somatic Experiencing and Transcending Sexual Violence through yoga. She also initiated programs at UCSB focused on healing the body through non-verbal therapies, such as Yoga as Healing and Healing with the Beat of a Different Drum for sexual assault survivors. In addition, Dr. Cordero developed a support group for undocumented students on campus focused on finding empowerment and strength through building community, advocacy, and unity. Dr. Cordero is a member of the faculty teaching the MA in Clinical Psychology, Somatic Psychotherapy concentration and Somatic Psychotherapy Certificate programs.