Carol Hirshfield, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist (PSY 16827)

2510 Main Street, Suite 201
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-6670

• Co-parenting Groups
• Social Skills Groups

Background

Dr. Carol Hirshfield has had over 20 years experience working with children, adults and their families. Her special expertise has included child development, working with populations who have special needs (such as learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and autism) and families who are engaged in ongoing high conflict divorces. In addition to her practice in psychotherapy and family therapy, she has consulted at several schools and day care centers in the Los Angeles area. She is one of the few psychologists who have ongoing social skills groups for children ages 8-15 years.

Prior to completing her doctoral work in clinical psychology, Dr. Hirshfield developed and ran two highly acclaimed programs for young adults with learning/developmental disabilities. She has taught undergraduate and grate level classes, including doctoral training in family systems therapy. She also developed a parenting center, where she helped work on a peer counseling training program for parents. Her own advanced
training has included a 2-year postgraduate institute for family systems therapy, advanced mediation training, and cognitive-behavioral training.

Dr. Hirshfield has published many articles on learning disabilities and has presented workshops on parenting, divorce, media education, and issues related to special needs’ populations.

Clinical Services:
• Psychotherapy – children, adolescents, adults
• Family Therapy – including couples’ therapy
• Parenting – for individual parents and in workshops
• Social Skills Groups – for children ages 8-15 with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, or other social
skills deficits.
• Custody Medication
• Co-Parenting Groups

Curriculum Vita:

Carol R. Hirshfield, Ph.D.
2510 Main Street, Suite 201
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-6670
Psychologist (PSY16827)

The Fielding Institute, Santa Barbara, CA: PH.D., Clinical Psychology, 1998. Pre-doctoral Internship: Julia Ann Singer Center, Los Angeles, CA.

The New School for Social Research, New York, NY: M.A., Psychology. 1977.

Hunter College, New York, NY: B.A., Psychology (Major), Anthropology (Minor). 1972.

Post-Graduate Training

Center for Dispute Resolution, Santa Monica, CA: Advanced Training in Mediation, Collaborative Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, 1993.

NJ Center for Family Studies: Millburn, NJ: Family Systems Therapy Certificate, 2 years postgraduate studies. 1979-1981.

Ethical Hypnosis Training Center, South Orange, NJ: Clinical Hypnosis Training, 1983.

Experience

Private practice
Santa Monica, CA - March 1993 to present
Private practice in individual & family therapy, social skills groups, and custody mediation. Specialties: working with children with special needs and their families, divorce, assessment for learning disabilities, and career counseling.

SAMUEL GOLDWYN FOUNDATION CHILDREN’S CENTER: Psychological Consultant
May 2001 to present
Day care center which services children ages 18 mos. To 5 yrs. Help identify
children at risk, train staff, parenting, and provide consultation to administrative staff.

WESTLAND SCHOOL: Educational Consultant
Bel Air, CA - January 1999 to 2004
Part time school psychologist position involving consultation to teachers and parents, screening students for learning disabilities, parent education.

JULIA ANN SINGER CENTER: Staff Therapist.
Los Angeles, CA - April 1997 to April 1999
Therapist providing child-centered family therapy in outpatient mental health facility.

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY:
Adjunct Faculty.
Alhambra, CA - September 1994 to June 1997
Taught graduate level course on clinical applications of family systems therapy, and couples’ therapy.

LANDMARK WEST SCHOOL: Transition Specialist
Encino, CA - August 1994 to June 1996
Consultant to school for children with learning disabilities. Developed and implemented transition planning, for post-high school plans for college and/or work.

INDEPENDENCE CENTER: Founding Director
Los Angeles, CA - April 1986 to August 1994
Developed and implemented improved model of service delivery for young adults with learning disabilities (originally developed in JESPY House). Duties included hiring and supervising staff, intakes and interventions with clients and families, liaison with board, overall administrative responsibilities.

JESPY HOUSE: Founding Director, Clinical Director
South Orange, NJ - August 1978 to October 1985
Developed and implemented a unique model of service delivery to a population heretofore not served: young adults (ages 18-30) with low average intelligence and learning disabilities. Program facilitated transition from home or residential school to independent living. Administration of ongoing program, especially with regard to clinical services.

MOTHERS' CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY: Founder & Trainer
Scotch Plains, NJ - June 1978 to June 1984
Founded parenting center dedicated to peer-led support groups for new mothers and mothers of young children. Developed and co-led peer facilitator training course, workshops, child care, parenting education and self-fulfillment. Organized all-day conference in March 1978 featuring Boston Women's Health Book Collective, and other noted speakers.

MONTCLAIR STATE COLLEGE: Adjunct Professor
Upper Montclair, NJ - Spring 1979, 1980
Taught undergraduate child development, infant development courses.

BOERUM HILL REHABILITATION RESIDENCE: Counselor
Brooklyn, NY - November 1976-September 1977
Counselor to 36 adults in psychiatric halfway house. Duties included group, individual & family counseling, case management, intake, crisis intervention, & vocational guidance.

BERNARD FINESON DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER: Psychological Assistant.
Howard Beach, NY - January 1975 to November 1976
State-run facility for developmentally disabled children, formerly housed at Willowbrook. Team member responsible for psychological evaluations and treatment planning, consulting to multidisciplinary team.

Publications

Hirshfield, C. (1997 Fall). Learning Disabilities and Families. The Educational Therapist. 18(3), 15-17.

Hirshfield, C. (1994 Win). The ABCs of Vocational Guidance: How You Can Help Your Adolescent and Adult Clients. The Educational Therapist, 15(1). 8-11.

Hirshfield Goodman,C. and Brown, D. (1992 Jul/Aug). Learning Disabilities and the Workplace. LDA Newsbriefs. 9.

Hirshfield,C. and Brown, D. (1992 Spr). Uncovering Learning Disabilities Can Enhance Job Performance.Employment Relations Today. 39-41.

Goodman, C. (1988) Helping Families Cope: Families with Learning Disabled Children. Paper presented at the International Conference of the Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. (ERIC Document ED 298 686)

Goodman, C. (1988) Learning How to Work. Their World: A Publication of the Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, 67.

Goodman, C., Brown, D., Goodman, S., Buffton, W. (1983) Independent Living for Learning Disabled Adults. Bridges to Tomorrow: the Best of ACLD. Proceedings of the International Association for Children & Adults with Learning Disabilities, 19-23.

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association, Member
Los Angeles County Psychological Association, Member
California Psychological Association, Member
Academy of Family Court Conciliators (AFCC), Member
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Affiliate

Professional Presentations

“Helping Children with Social Skills: A Seminar for Parents”. A 3 hour workshop for parents, attended by 150 people, for the Bureau of Jewish Education Series, Stephen S. Wise Temple, February 2001.

“It’s Only Make Believe: Atittudes of Adolescents Toward Violence in the Media”. A talk based on original research for international conference, attended by 300 adolescent medicine specialists. Society of Adolescent Medicine, Aix-on-Provence, France. July 1999.

Parent Education seminars, P.S. #1, Santa Monica, CA, February, March, April, May 1999.

“Recent Approaches to High Level Conflict in Divorce”, Panel presentation to Los Angeles County Psychological Association, October 1998.

“Social Skills Training”. Etta Israel Center, Jewish Family Services, Los Angeles, January 2, 1997. A training for social workers on staff.

“Dyslexia: How to Live With It”. The Learning Annex., August 30, 1995, September 27, 1995. Los Angeles, CA. An evening workshop for adults who are dyslexic, offered on two occasions.

“Is There Life After High School?” Conference at Landmark West School, “From L.D. to Ph.D.”, Encino, CA. May 20, 1995.

“Short-term Therapy with Children”, A training seminar for staff and interns, Asian Pacific Counseling & Treatment Center, Los Angeles, CA. March 23, 1995.

“Transition Planning: Life Beyond High School”. A one-day workshop for the Association of Educational Therapists, Sherman Oaks, CA, March 18, 1995.

“Parenting the Adolescent with Learning Differences”, Landmark West School, Encino, CA., January 21, 1995.

Families of the 90s: Family Therapy Approaches to Contemporary Problems”, A Panel Discussion, Los Angeles County Psychological Association, October 1990.

“On Becoming Independent”, A seminar for parents of adolescents and adults with learning disabilities. Orton Dyslexia Society, June 1989.

“Independent Living for Adults with Learning Disabilities”, Conference on the Learning Disabled Adult. California State University, Northridge, February 1989.

“Families and Learning Disabilities: How Do They Cope”, Presentation at the Association of Learning Disabilities, Las Vegas, NV, March 1988.

“The Learning Disabled Adult within the Family System”, Presentation at the Conference on the Learning Disabled Adult”, California State University, Northridge, February 1988.

“Independent Living for Adults With Learning Disabilities”, Presentation at the Association for Children & Adults with Learning Disabilities, March 1984.

“Effective Parenting”, an 8-week course, Bloomfield High School-Adult School, Bloomfield, NJ, February-May 1981