Rebecca Schwartz Mette, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, University at Buffalo
Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor
NY License #026942; Maine License #1457; National Register of Health Service Psychologists #54384
Training: Dr. Schwartz Mette received her Master's in Clinical Psychology and a dual PhD in Clinical/Developmental Psychology from the University of Missouri where she was trained in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children/teens, and adults, as well specialized training in couples and group therapy. At Mizzou, she also completed a 4-year training rotation in comprehensive outpatient Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for older adolescents and adults and a 5-year rotation in forensic assessment (personal injury, child custody). She next completed her predoctoral clinical internship at Iowa State University Student Counseling Service where she received specialized training in group psychotherapy, disordered eating, and clinical supervision. She then completed a postdoctoral residency at the University of Wyoming Counseling Center, where she also served as its Assistant Training Director. From 2022-2025, Dr. Schwartz Mette was trained as a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher with the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California San Diego.
Clinical Expertise: Dr. Schwartz Mette provides evidence-based therapy for children, teens, adults, and couples. She has extensive experience assessing treating anxiety (e.g., panic, social anxiety, phobias, OCD) and mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar), body image and eating issues, acute / chronic trauma and PTSD, relationship / couples issues, and life stress/burnout. In individual therapy, Dr. Schwartz Mette uses a variety of approaches including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), as well as cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and interpersonal therapies. In couples therapy, she uses Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) to address issues of emotional connection and behavior change in a supportive and collaborative environment. Dr. Schwartz-Mette is available for cognitive (ADHD, Learning Disability, Giftedness, Autism) and other diagnostic evaluations. A recent area of specialization is supporting health care professionals (e.g., medicine, nursing, mental health) with reducing job-related stress and burnout.
Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Schwartz Mette's approach to assessment and therapy is deeply rooted in attention to and appreciation of sociocultural identities and the various contexts in which we exist. Exploration of issues related to identity, society, and culture is welcomed in therapy, and Dr. Schwartz Mette maintains a strong commitment to continuous development of multicultural competencies as a professional psychologist.
Research: As a faculty member at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Schwartz Mette maintains an active research laboratory, the BIRCH (Building Interpersonal Resilience and Community Health) Lab. Her work focuses primarily on adolescent peer relationships, depression, and suicide. A second line of research is focused on reducing burnout and enhancing resilience in health care trainees and professionals.