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About

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Matthew R. Lunsford

MSW, EdM, MS, BCBA, LBA, LMHP-S, C-IAYT

Matthew Lunsford is a licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Board Certified Special Educator (BCSE), yoga therapist, Humanist Celebrant, associate chaplain, Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), Supervisee in Clinical Social Work, and special education teacher  in Virginia. Matthew currently holds an MSW in clinical social work, an M.Ed. in special education, and an MS in psychology focusing on developmental neurobiology and forensic psychology. Matthew is currently working towards full LCSW licensure and his Doctor of Social Work. Matthew specializes in anxiety disorders, phobias, neurodivergence, OCD, pediatric and adult gender dysphoria, intellectual disability, adjustment to disability, and eating disorders. Matthew has lived experience with cerebral palsy, legal blindness, and hearing loss. Matthew's primary research interests are neurodivergent culture 

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Matthew enjoys giving back to the community and offers supervision to individuals seeking board certification in behavior analysis at the BCaBA and BCBA levels to individuals that are interested in mental health applications of behavior analysis. He is also willing to supervise individuals in BSW and MSW practicums. Matthew is especially passionate about offering supervision to future clinicians with disabilities. In addition, he is a proud volunteer with the GALAP Project.​

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Outside of his practice, Matthew is a professor of psychology, special education, sociology, and clinical social work at the University of Kentucky, Germanna Community College, and Southern New Hampshire University. He also adjuncts as an online high school special education social studies, English, and health teacher at VHS Learning. Matthew currently serves on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) where he advises on disability education and licensing efforts for yoga therapy on an international scale. When he isn't seeing patients or teaching, Matthew enjoys traveling, reading, photography, learning to draw, writing, playing the violin, piano, and mandolin, gaming, software engineering, and spending time with friends and family.

Areas of Expertise & Clinical Interests

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety Disorders

Clinical Behavior Analysis

Disability and Society

Eating Disorders

LGBTQ Concerns

Neurodivergence

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Pediatric and Adult Gender Dysphoria 

Yoga Therapy

Teaching Experience and Courses Taught

Adjunct Assistant Professor  of Psychology & Education, Germanna Community College

  • PSY 200: Principles of Psychology

  • PSY 230: Developmental Psychology

  • PSY 215: Abnormal Psychology

  • EDU 200: Introduction to Teaching as a Profession 

  • EDU 250: Exceptional Students: Introduction to Special Education

  • PED 109: Yoga I

  • PED 120: Yoga II

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Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Sociology, & Special Education, 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

  • SOC 112: Introduction to Sociology 

  • SOC 213: Sociology of Social Problems 

  • SOC 320: Sociology of Gender 

  • SOC 325: Sociological Perspectives 

  • 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 – January 2024

  • 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
CEO/Behavior Analyst/Psychotherapist/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

Social Studies, Health, & English Teacher, August 2020 – Present

 

City of Fredericksburg Public Schools, Fredericksburg, VA

Substitute Teacher, May 2017 – May 2021​

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 – January 2024

  • 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

Education

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Doctor of Social Work / Clinical & Medical Social Work, May 2026

  • Doctoral Capstone Project: Developing an Understanding of Neurodivergent Culture: Implications for Clinical Social Work Practice

  • Advisor: Alison Wetmur, DSW, LCSW

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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

  • Thesis: Psychopharmacology in the Classroom: What Do Teachers of Emotionally Disturbed Students Need to Know and Why?

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Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH

Master of Science / Psychology, February 2017

 

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Bachelor of Arts / English & Creative Writing, December 2014

 

Germanna Community College, Fredericksburg, VA

Associate of Arts and Sciences / Education, May 2012

Licenses And Certifications

  • Massachusetts Educator License # 516473

    • English​

    • Family & Consumer Science

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

  • Florida Educator License #1516966

    • English 

    • Social Sciences 

    • Special Education 

  • Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (RCYT), Yoga Alliance

  • Registered Yoga Teacher E-200/500-hour, Yoga Alliance

  • Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists

  • Certified Health Specialist

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 1-21-52050

  • Virginia Teacher License PGP-0704379

    • English​

    • History and Social Sciences 

    • Special Education: General Curriculum K - 12 

  • Virginia Licensed Behavior Analyst, License 0133002098

  • Virginia Supervisee in Clinical Social Work, License 0906015002

  • Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP)

  • RESNA Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)

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/

Conference Presentations

“Understanding Self-Directed Care and Discrimination,” Unconference. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, September 2024

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