She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Marian University (1983) in Indianapolis, Indiana; her Master in Social Work (1988) from Indiana University. In 1990, she completed a two-year training as Marital and Family Therapist from The Family Therapy Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Akel-Greer obtained her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) from the University of Indianapolis in 2000. She completed her psychology internship at the Houston Psychotherapy Institute, in Houston, Texas. Additionally, she completed a fellowship rotation at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; and in 2,002 she completed her Psychology Residency at Citrus Health Network in the Outpatient Psychotherapy Program. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a National Certified Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.