Professional Biography

Dr. Marsha Richardson is a clinical psychologist by training and a professional program administrator. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Widener University’s School of Human Service Professions. She joined the faculty as a Seminar Leader in the School and Mental Health Counseling Program in 2009 and was promoted to full time Lecturer in 2011. Previously, she taught in the masters’ programs at Arcadia and Chestnut Hill Universities and LaSalle University’s doctoral program. She also served as the community representative of LaSalle’s Internal Review Board.

 Her extensive professional experience as a practitioner includes providing clinical and managerial oversight of a school-based mental health program that specializes in the utilization of Nicholas Hobbs and the PEP model of care for behaviorally challenged children and adolescents. She was the clinical director of an acute level treatment facility for adolescent females with significant trauma utilizing dialectical behavioral therapy and the Sanctuary Model of Trauma-Informed Care. She served as the clinical supervisor and program director of Devereux’s treatment foster care, outpatient services, wrap-around services and family-based services, as well as clinical supervisor for their residential treatment facility. Her leadership roles within mental health agencies span several agencies within the Philadelphia and Chester counties. Her technical writing and program development efforts resulted in the development of programs such as a community-based residential program for former institutionalized men, a subacute diagnostic unit in West Philadelphia, and a counseling program in a women’s self-sufficiency program.

Research Interests and Current Projects

Dr. Richardson’s primary interest in professional development afforded her opportunities to assist in the development of a county-wide symposium on child resiliency in collaboration with Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, the Department of Human Services, and the Philadelphia Alliance; serve as a provider representative in the Philadelphia Alliance and Pennsylvania Council on Child, Youth and Family Services. She also served on the Council of Advocates for the Philadelphia Compact. While at Devereux, she was an adjunct clinical supervisor and instructor for the foundation’s Institute for Clinical Training and Research and assisted in the development of their national Cultural Diversity Curriculum for post-doctoral interns. Through PCCYFS, Dr. Richardson also provides several trainings and lectures on child/adolescent development and diversity throughout the year for many direct-service paraprofessionals and government social service employees. In 2001, she participated in a USAID partnership between Ukrainian medical professionals and Philadelphian multidisciplinary team in Kiev, Ukraine, providing consultation and training to Ukrainian doctors and nurses in an effort to improve service delivery in a family medical polyclinic in Kiev.  

She maintains a small private practice and provides consultative services in personal development, effective communication, and program development to independent providers.