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About

Matthew R. Lunsford

M.ED., MS, BCBA, LBA, C-IAYT

I bring a wealth of lived and professional experience to my practice as a behavior analyst, Health Specialist, and yoga therapist as an individual with cerebral palsy, legal blindness, and mild hearing loss. I got my start in the field interning at Northern Virginia Instructional Consulting (NVIC) and the Gladys H. Oberle School. From there, I continued on at NVIC until I decided to open my own practice. Unlike most behavior analysts, I bring in behavioral mindfulness whenever possible in addition to the traditional behavior analytic approach of teaching and learning new skills and replacement behaviors. I’m also experienced in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and will utilize its principles whenever clinically indicated. 

 

My clinical interests are centered around working with anxiety disorders (including OCD), phobias, LGBT+ individuals, teaching appropriate sexual behaviors, and eating disorders. I also have experience in working with more severe conditions such as psychosis. I approach each case with a sense of profound respect for each patient and I do my best to understand everyone’s situation to craft the best treatment plan possible. 

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At this time I am working towards ordination as an interfaith minister and my Master of Social Work. I plan to eventual offer spiritual counseling, diagnostic, and psychotherapy services. 

 

Outside of my practice, I’m an adjunct English, health, and psychology teacher and professor at VHS Learning and SNHU respectively. I enjoy reading sci-fi and horror, travel, photography, languages, and cafés. I’m also the proud owner of Webster, an incredibly loving 11-year-old lab and Ginger, a moody and lovable 7-year-old Calico. 

Education

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Master of Social Work / Clinical Social Work, December 2023

 

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Graduate Certificate / Applied Behavior Analysis, December 2019

 

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Master of Education / Special Education, December 2020

 

Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH

Master of Science / Psychology, February 2017

 

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Bachelor of Arts / English, December 2014

 

Germanna Community College, Fredericksburg, VA

Associate of Arts and Sciences / Education, May 2012

Areas of Expertise

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Clinical Behavior Analysis

Yoga Therapy

Disability and Society

Teaching Experience and Courses Taught

Adjunct Professor of Psychology & SPED, SNHU

  • PSY 108: Introduction to Psychology

  • PSY 200: Foundations of Addictions

  • PSY 205: Forensic Psychology

  • PSY 215: Abnormal Psychology

  • PSY 216: Psychology of Personality

  • PSY 225: Health Psychology

  • PSY 226: Psychology of Individual Differences and Special Needs

  • PSY 300: Biopsychology

  • PSY 310: Criminal Psychology

  • PSY 314: Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

  • PSY 323: Psychology of Gender

  • PSY 331: Human Sexuality

  • PSY 491: Psychology & Social Change

  • PSY 500: Foundations in Psychology

  • SCS 501: Foundations in Statistics 

  • SCS 502: Foundations in Research Methods 

  • PSY 510: Research Methods in Psychology I

  • PSY 520: Research Methods in Psychology II

  • PSY 530: Social Psychology

  • PSY 540: Cognitive Processes 

  • PSY 545: Forensic Psychology

  • PSY 550: Measurement and Assessment 

  • PSY 560: Theories of Personality 

  • PSY 570: Ethical Practice in Psychology

  • PSY 632: Developmental Psychology

  • PSY 634 Cognitive Neuropsychology

  • PSY 636: Intervention Strategies

  • PSY 638: Child and Developmental Psychology Seminar

  • PSY 790: Capstone in Psychology

  • SPED 501NC: Students with Exceptionalities 

  • SPED 520: Assessment of Student Performance 

  • SPED 540NC: Classroom and Behavior Management

  • SPED 610: Executive Function and Study Skills

  • SPED 624NC: Professional Collaboration

  • SPED 650: Social-Emotional Competencies and Students with LBLD

 

Assistant Professor of Psychology and English, University of the People, October 2018 – Present

  • UNIV 1001: Online Education Strategies

  • ENG 1010: College Composition I

  • PSYC 1504: Introduction to Psychology

  • PSYC 1205: Emotional Intelligence  

  • CPH 4241: Psychopathology and Mental Health

Professional Experience 

Lunsford Behavioral Consulting & Yoga, LLC
Owner/Behavior Analyst/Yoga Therapist, September 2021 – Present

Southern New Hampshire University
Adjunct Professor of Psychology & SPED, October 2021 – Present

Northern Virginia Instructional Consulting, LLC

Board Certified Behavior Analyst, August 2021 – February 2022


University of Mary Washington
Adjunct Professor of Psychology & SPED, March 2021 – Present 

 

VHS Learning

AP Psychology, Health, & English Teacher, August 2020 – Present

 

City of Fredericksburg Public Schools, Fredericksburg, VA

Substitute Teacher, May 2017 – May 2021

  • Supervise students in multiple environments including classrooms and cafeterias

  • Enforce administrative policies and rules governing students

Volunteer Experience

Northern Virginia Instructional Consulting
Intern in Clinical Behavior Analysis, August 2020 – April 2021

 

Gladys H. Oberle School

Intern in Behavior Analysis, June 2019 – December 2019

University of the People, Pasadena, CA

Assistant Professor of Psychology and English, October 2018 – Present

  • Promoted to Faculty Trainer March 2020

 

Crisis Text Line, New York, NY

Certified Bilingual Crisis Counselor, June 2017 – Present

  • Multitask and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in a technological environment to provide crisis services to those in need

  • Trained and comfortable in high-risk scenarios

  • Trained in active rescue protocol

  • Deliver crisis services utilizing a high degree of empathy and active listening

Licenses And Certifications

  • Massachusetts English 5 – 12 Educator License # 516473

  • Board Certified Special Educator, American Academy of Special Education Professionals

  • Registered Yoga Teacher 500-hour, Yoga Alliance

  • Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists

  • Certified Health Specialist

  • International Behavior Analyst, International Behavior Analyst Organization, 36100039

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 1-21-5205

  • Virginia Licensed Behavior Analyst, License 0133002098

Professional Affiliations

  • Member of Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society

  • Associate Member of the American Psychological Association

    • Division 2: Society for the Teaching of Psychology

    • Division 25: Behavior Analysis

  • Member of Psi Beta International Honor Society

  • Member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

  • Member of Omicron Delta Kappa

  • Professor Member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers

  • Member of the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Sciences

  • Member of the Virginia Association of Behavior Analysis

  • Member of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society

  • Member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International

  • Member of the National Association of Social Workers

Publications

Epps, B., Lunsford, M. R. (2020). Psychopharmacology in the classroom: What do teachers of emotionally disturbed students need to know and why?. Unpublished manuscript, College of Education, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, USA.

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Epps, B., Lunsford, M. R. (2020). The braille literacy crisis: Why is it occurring and how can it be remedied?. Unpublished manuscript, College of Education, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, USA.

Media

Lunsford, M. R. (2020, July 14). What is precision teaching?, from https://thinkpsych.com/blog/what-is-precision-teaching-aba/

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