New Director Named for Florida Tech’s Family Learning Program
MELBOURNE, FLA—Licensed Psychologist Demara (Mari) Bennett, Psy.D., has been named the new director of the Family Learning Program (FLP) at Florida Institute of Technology, an outreach of Community Psychological Services (CPS). The FLP is a state and federally funded sexual abuse treatment program for children ages 3 to 18 and their family members who are recovering from sexual abuse.
Bennett has continued to be the clinical supervisor for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) team at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment. She provides clinical supervision for advanced-level doctoral psychology students as they provide evaluation and treatment for ASD clients and their families. She works closely with faculty and students within the university’s clinical Psy.D. program to provide a full range of services for children and families faced with the challenges of autism. In addition , her faculty responsibilities include teaching several Florida Tech School of Psychology courses.
Bennett earned her doctorate in psychology, clinical specialization (Psy.D) from Florida Tech in 1994. She also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university. She has extensive experience providing psychological and neuropsychological evaluation and treatment across the lifespan as well as diagnostics and treatment of complicated developmental, cognitive, emotional and behavioral concerns.
Her professional interests include child and family psychology with specialization in the diagnosis of pediatric mental health concerns and clinical supervision. Through her positions with community mental health centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health centers and in private practice, Bennett has provided individual, group and family therapy for victims of child abuse and neglect. She has specialized experience providing autism spectrum evaluation services and early childhood assessment and intervention, and has collaborated with regional agencies within the child protection system.
Bennett also maintains a private practice in Satellite Beach where she resides with her husband Matthew, and their two children, Delaney and Chase.
The Family Learning Program not only provides a needed community service, but also gives psychology doctoral students field experience working with children, parents, offenders and community agencies. For more information, call (321) 604-5898 and request The Family Learning Program. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
