Melissa E. Milanak, PhD

Melissa E. Milanak, PhD is a psychiatrist in Charleston, SC, specializing in clinical psychology with a focus on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disorders. She serves patients at the MUSC Health Institute of Psychiatry located at 67 President Street, offering new patient visits and comprehensive care for individuals dealing with trauma-related conditions and sleep-related challenges. Her expertise includes the treatment and research of PTSD and its intersection with sleep, as well as the role of emotional information processing in mental health. Dr. Milanak is affiliated with the Medical University of SC (MUSC), where she serves as an instructor in the Sleep and Anxiety Treatment and Research Program (SATRP), associate director for continuing education in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and faculty advisor for the medical student psychiatry interest group. She provides care to adults and supervises clinical trainees, including PGY-3 residents in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.

Dr. Milanak earned her doctorate in clinical and community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, completed her internship through the Charleston Consortium at MUSC, and held a two-year NIMH research postdoctoral fellowship at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) at MUSC. Her research spans both the United States and Northern Ireland, examining PTSD symptom factors, emotional processing, and the impact of sleep on trauma recovery. She is actively involved in academic training, mentoring future clinicians, and advancing evidence-based treatment approaches in mental health care.

Her professional presence is marked by strong online visibility and consistent, detailed information across digital platforms. The website is well-structured and optimized for search engines, ensuring that patients and professionals can easily access her credentials, services, and contact details. Her profile reflects a deep commitment to research, education, and clinical excellence.

In Charleston, Dr. Milanak contributes to a growing network of specialized mental health care, offering science-informed treatment for complex psychological conditions within a trusted academic medical setting.