Training and Background

Madison Roopchand is a dedicated mental health professional and PhD candidate at Nova Southeastern University, expected to graduate in 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Florida (2013) and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University (2019). Since 2018, she has provided compassionate care to individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and relational challenges. Her early work in community mental health sparked a passion for supporting individuals struggling with addiction, as well as children and families navigating the complexities of the foster care system.

During her doctoral training, Madison gained experience in diverse clinical settings, including neuropsychological assessment, couples therapy, and intensive psychodynamic psychotherapy. She served as clinic coordinator for the university’s Intensive Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Clinic, where she advanced her skills in supervision and clinic operations.

Madison’s research reflects a strong commitment to understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying substance use and emotional processing. Her dissertation research titled, “The Impact of Substance Use Treatment on Empathy and Its Contribution to Supporting Recovery,” was honored with the Student Research Award from Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Clinical and School Psychology (2024). This research explores the role of empathy in the recovery process, a timely and critical area of inquiry that bridges addiction studies, the therapeutic alliance, and treatment outcomes.

Madison’s work has been recognized through several distinctions, including an R13-funded award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2022) and a Professional Development Grant from the Pan Student Government Association at Nova Southeastern University (2023). She is also a member of multiple academic honor societies, Psi Beta (2009), Psi Chi (2021), and Phi Kappa Phi (2022), reflecting a longstanding commitment to academic excellence and professional growth.

Professional Affiliations and Honors

    • Student Research Award (SRA), Nova Southeastern University, Department of Clinical and School Psychology, 2024

    • Professional Development Grant (PDG), PanSGA Nova Southeastern University, 2023

    • R13-funded travel award, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2022

    • Phi Kappa Phi, National Multidisciplinary Honor Society, 2022

    • Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology, 2021

    • Psi Beta, National Honor Society in Psychology, 2009

  • DeLucia, C., Larson, O., Cohen, Z., Roopchand, M., Meisner, P., Bergman, B., (Manuscript submitted for publication). Predicting Changes in Self-Concept and Substance Use Following Short-Term Residential Substance Use Treatment. Department of Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University.

    Souchon, M., Calati, R., Garcia, L., Roopchand, M., Foster, A., Maisto, M., Romano, D., Delvecchio, G., Brambilla, P., Madeddu, F., Lopez-Castroman, J. (Manuscript submitted for publication) The Paradox of Empathy for Pain: The Role of Stressful Life Events and Personality. Department of Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University.

    Crocker, J., Roopchand, M., Hylander, B., Rich, K., & Stripling, A.M. (2023). The Trainees' Perspective: Assessing Beginning Gero-Competence in Graduate Level Psychology Students. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 31(3), 109-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2022.12.157.

    Peart, Z., Roopchand, M., Shepherd, B., Brochu, P., (2023). Trainee Attitudes Towards Patients with Addictions and Their Influence on Clinical Decision Making. [Poster presentation]. APA Annual Convention Division 50 Society of Addiction Psychology, Washington D.C.

    Roopchand, M., Aronson, R., Golden, C., (2023). Inadvertent Social Withdrawal: Personality Profiles Associated with Stimulant Use. [Poster presentation]. APA Annual Convention Division 50 Society of Addiction Psychology, Washington D.C.

    Crocker, J., Roopchand, M., Hylander, B., Rich, K., Stripling, A., (2023). The Trainees' Perspective: Assessing Baseline Gero-Competence in Graduate Level Psychology Students. [Poster presentation] AAGP Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

    Ropchand, M., Stripling, A., (2022). Unintentionally Blunting the Ability to Connect: Sex Differences on Empathy in Substance Use Samples. [Poster presentation] APA Annual Convention Division 28 Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse R13 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Minneapolis, MN.

    Roopchand, M., Stripling, A., Nunez, C., Cohen, Z., Graves, K., (2022). Anticipating an Increase Demand: Alcohol Use Among Older Adults. [Poster presentation] APA Annual Convention Division 50 Society of Addiction Psychology, Minneapolis, MN.

    Richards, J., Gomes de Siqueira, A., Lloveras, L., Yoa, H., Roopchand, M., Bloch-Elkouby, S.,Rodgers, M., Galynker, L., Foster, A., (2020). Three Dimensions Of Clinicians' Empathy for People at Risk of Suicide: A Case For Empathetic Signature. [Poster presentation] WPA World Congress of Psychiatry Conference, Virtual.

    Roopchand, M., McCoy, K., Lloveras, L., Gomes de Siqueira, A., Yoa, H., (2020). Teaching Clinicians Empathetic Signature Using Validated Instruments: The Empathetic Coding System for Interaction with Patients at Risk of Suicide: A Virtual Human Study. [Poster presentation] APA Annual Meeting, Virtual.

    • Psychotherapy Action Network, member, (2023-present)

    • Florida Psychoanalytic Center, student member, (2023-present)

    • Southeast Florida Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology, student member, (2023-

      present)

    • American Psychological Association (Division 39), student member, (2022-present)

    • American Psychological Association (Division 50), student member, (2021-present)

    • American Psychological Association (Division 28), student member, (2021-present)

    • American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, (2017-present)

    • Florida Psychological Association, student member, (2017-present)

    • American Psychiatric Association, student member, (2020-2021)

    • World Psychiatric Association, student member, (2020-2021)

    • American Counseling Association, student member, (2017-2021)