Penny Michelle Abrams Ph.D.

(Formerly, Goffman)
713-906-9057 pmaphd@gmail.com

CA Psychology License 20753

NY Psychology License 018982
TX Psychology License 31110 (held/reloca)

P S Y C H O L O G Y S P E C I A L I S T A N D C O N S U LTA N T
Experienced Clinical Psychologist and Consultant able to contribute to the growth and
development of adult clients by working with and focusing on their presenting counseling and
professional needs.
Related Arenas: Professional, Executive and Employee Consulting. High Conflict Case
Management, Court Appointed Expert Witness during Jury Trials. Preparation of Clients for
the Legal Arena (mediation, deposition, trial). Mediation
High standards in written and verbal communication skills that present to diverse audiences.

PROVIDING FOR CLIENTS:

Individual/Couples Counseling Anxiety, Depression, Trauma Management

Personality Disorders Group Counseling Presentations Coaching Mediation

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE
Clinical Psychologist: Sixty Minutes of Clarity (sixtyminutesofclarity.com)
June 2013 Present
PENNY MICHELLE ABRAMS, PHD, SOLO PRACTICE, La Jolla California
CBT for depression, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders (DBT),
Counseling for life transitions including: family, personal, academic, and professional
relationship issues, self-esteem and identity issues, divorce, loss and bereavement,
adjustments, multi-generational challenge. (Emotional Focused Therapy & CBT)
Mediation: Corporate, Couples
Clinical Psychologist
2008 May 2013
COASTAL PSYCHIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, INC., San Diego, California
CBT for depression, anxiety, trauma, relational problems, personality disorders (DBT)
Counseling / CBT for life transitions including: family, personal, academic, and professional
relationship issues, self-esteem and identity issues, divorce, loss and bereavement, military
adjustments, multi-generational challenges
PRIVATE PRACTICE, Houston, Texas
2000 2008
CBT for depression, anxiety, trauma, relational problems, personality disorders
Psychological & Neuropsychological Assessments, Academic, Pre-Adoption, Medical
Procedure Pre-Screening Evaluations
Medical, professional, executive, and academic consulting
Mediation, Collaborative negotiations with attorneys and clients relating to life transitions
Assess and consult on forensic and insurance evaluations (Disability, Custody, Sexual
Harassment cases)
Counseling / CBT for life transitions including: relationship issues, divorce, career changes,
loss and bereavement, elder care, adoptions, inheritance conflicts
Professional and Academic Presentations

PENNY MICHELLE ABRAMS, Ph.D.

Page Two

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Fellowship
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, Houston, TX
Provided psychological, neuropsychological, transplant team evaluations
Conducted individual and couples therapy
Managed forensic cases including Baylor Family Law Project
Participated in case conferences and Medical Grand Rounds

1998-2000

1996 1998
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, Houston, TX

Psychology Internships

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Conducted psychological and neuropsychological evaluations within clinical and hospital

Evaluated issues including organ transplant assessments, eating disorders, diminished
capacity, personality and mood disorders
Participated in case conferences and Medical Grand Rounds

HOUSTON PSYCHOTHERAPY INSTITUTE, Houston, TX

Managed individual and couples clinical cases for mood and personality disorders, closed
head injury, physical and sexual abuse
Conducted cognitive-behavioral treatment, anger management, evaluations
SPRING BRANCH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, Houston, TX
Conducted clinical intake and assessments for middle and high school students including
academic and therapeutic conferences with faculty, parents, Child Protective Services, and
health professionals
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
TREATMENT FOR HUMAN SEXUALITY (ADAPT), Houston, TX
Led and assisted group therapy for adolescent sexual perpetrators: CBT approach for social
skills and produced monthly reports
Conducted individual therapy for juvenile victims and perpetrators of sexual and physical
abuse to identify and resolve issues of acute stress, PTSD, personality and mood disorders
Conducted case conferences with/without parole officers
Participated in Training Institute for Sex Offender Treatment: seminal issues including
treatment and developmental, gender, legal and ethical issues
Group Therapy Practicum
HOUSTON GROUP PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, TX
Co-led CBT groups: depression, anxiety, personality disorders, relational problems
Participated in psychodynamic process group and supervision

1995

Psychology Practicum
1993 - 1995
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER,
MENTAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE, Houston, Texas
Conducted out-patient psycho-diagnostic assessments for adults and children, individual,
couples, family therapy: anxiety, depression, PTSD, personality disorders, organic disorders

PENNY MICHELLE ABRAMS, PhD

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PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE
Psychology Practicum (continued)
Led schizophrenia group therapy; participated in case conferences; attended Medical Grand
Rounds

TEACHINGEXPERIENCE
SOUTH TEXAS HEBREW ACADEMY, Houston, TX
Developed curriculum and Taught English & Drama, 7th 12th grades
HEWLETT WOODMERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Woodmere, NY
Taught English & Drama, 7th 9th grades, Supervised student teacher
GREAT NECK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Great Neck, NY
Taught English, 7th 9th grades

E D U C AT I O N
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, FIELDING GRADUATE UNIVERSITY, Santa Barbara, CA
M.A. Clinical Psychology, FIELDING GRADUATE UNIVERSITY, Santa Barbara, CA
M.A. Theatre Arts,

ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, Garden City, NY

B.A. English Literature, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, Hempstead, NY

SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Cultural Issues in Intimate Partner Violence & Child Custody Update
Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Advanced Mediation: National Conflict Resolution Center
Handling Domestic Violence in New Ways & Custody Training for Custody Evaluators
High Conflict Case Manager Program
Neuro Developmental Consequences of Early Exposure to Trauma and Chaotic Rearing
13th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma
Private Custody Evaluator: Family Code Rule 5.225(d) 40 hrs& 5.230 16 hrs

PROFESSIONALLICENSESANDCREDENTIALS
California Board of Psychology, License # Psy 20753
New York State Psychology License # 018982
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, License # 3-1110 /relocation/on hold
National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists, Registry # 29475 not current

PENNY MICHELLE ABRAMS, PhD

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C O N F E R E N C E P R E S E N TAT I O N S
Women's Group, Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA
Intimacy & Finances
Genworth Financial, San Diego, CA
When Love and Work Collide
Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, Houston, TX
Strategies in Working with Difficult Clients (Borderline Personality Disorder)
Gulf Coast Collaborative Law Network, Houston, TX
Anxiety & Depression in Clients and How to Diffuse Difficult Situations
American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, University of Houston Law
School, TX Panel participant and expert witness during mock trials

P U B L I C AT I O N S
K e y Q u e s t i o n s To A s k B e f o r e Yo u S a y I D o . San Diego Woman, November 2015
Questions To Ask Before You Say I Do, San Diego Woman, January 2009
Consider the Mind As Well As the Body, National Underwriter, October 18, 2004
Mental Health Pros Join Lawyers in Collaborative Divorce Process, Houston Business Journal,
September 3-9, 2004