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Angus Maxwell Strachan, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of California, #PSY8929

2510 Main Street, Suite 201
Santa Monica CA 90405
Phone: (310) 392-2293
Fax: (310) 392-6043

Angus Strachan is a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on resolving problems between people. He mediates disputes between family members or couples going through divorce. He performs custody evaluations and handles post-divorce disputes as a Special Master. He does psychotherapy and co-parent counseling with individual children, adults, couples and families. He consults to organizations on team development issues. He has a special interest in partnerships and family businesses. Angus Strachan is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at UCLA in the area of interpersonal communication.

Education

  • Post-doctoral Fellow: Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, England, 1982-1985
  • Post-doctoral Fellow: Family Project, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1981-1982
  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology: University of California, Los Angeles, 1981
    Minor Areas: Developmental and Social Psychology
  • B.Sc. Psychology: Birkbeck College, University of London, England, 1972-1975 (First Class Honors)
  • P.G.C.E. Postgraduate Certificate in Education: Goldsmiths' College, University of London, England, 1970-1971
  • B.A. Mechanical Sciences and Management Studies: Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, England, 1967-70.

Professional and Academic Positions

September 1984 - Present

 CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, MEDIATOR, EVALUATOR:
Private Practice – Santa Monica, CA
Specializing in child custody evaluations, both brief and comprehensive; special mastering; mediation and family therapy for custody and visitation problems; psychotherapy with children, adults, couples and families.
 
Sept. 1990 - 2000 ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY:
University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Institute
Supervisor of child and family cases for child psychiatry fellows and post-doctoral interns. Instructor of family systems therapy course in Department of Psychiatry. Family process research supervisor. Staff privileges.
 
June 1992 - 1999 PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE: Divorce and Family Therapy Specialists – Santa Monica, CA
Trainer in therapeutic and dispute resolution techniques for working with divorcing families. Provider of continuing education courses for attorneys and mental health professionals.
 
Sept. 1985 - June 1990 MEDIATOR: Center for Dispute Resolution – Santa Monica, CA
Founding member in partnership with attorney mediators specializing in comprehensive divorce mediation covering custody, support, and property issues and family business and workplace disputes. Trainer in mediation techniques.
 
Sept. 1984 - 1990 FACULTY: Family Therapy Institute of Southern California – Santa Monica, CA
Coordinator of nine-month post-graduate training program covering major models of family therapy, including structural, strategic and systemic techniques. Live supervision of family therapy cases. Director 1989-1990.
 
1990 1990 ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: University of California, Los Angeles, Department Of Psychology
Supervisor of family therapy training.
 
1984 - 1989 ADJUNCT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology
Lecturer and clinical supervisor in family therapy; Co-Chief, Family Assessment and Treatment Laboratory (with Professor Michael Goldstein). Responsible for research programs on family communication and intervention with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
 
January 1982 - July 1984 POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW: Medical Research Council Social Psychiatry Unit, Institute Of Psychiatry, University Of London, England
Half-time post-doctoral research on expressed emotion, family interaction and family therapy for schizophrenia.
 
January 1982 - July 1984 MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT: Development Associates, England
Worked with management teams, team-building, executive selection, interpersonal skills training in private and public sector.
 
January 1981 - December 1981 POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW: University of California, Los Angeles, Family Project, Department Of Psychology
Conducted research on family interaction and family therapy.
 
September 1980 - December 1981 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANT: Family Therapy Institute of Southern California – Santa Monica, CA
Family and couples therapy supervised by Fred Gottlieb, M.D.
 
September 1979 - June 1980 PSYCHOLOGY INTERN: Veteran’s Administration Hospital – Los Angeles, CA
Inpatient treatment of veterans.
 
September 1978 - June 1979 PSYCHOLOGY INTERN: University of California, Los Angeles, Student Mental Health Services
Clinical Psychology training with university students.
 
September 1977 - August 1978 PSYCHOLOGY INTERN: San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic
Outpatient child and family therapy. Children’s group therapy. Child abuse unit.
 
September 1976 - 1977 PSYCHOLOGY TRAINEE: University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology Clinic, Department of Psychology
Outpatient psychotherapy and psychological assessment with adults, children and family.
 
September 1975 - 1976, 1979 - 1980 TEACHING ASSISTANT: University of California, Department of Psychology
Introductory psychology, abnormal psychology, interpersonal process.
 
September 1971 - July 1975 SCHOOL TEACHER: Wanstead High School, Psychology, Physics, and Humanities – London, England
 

Professional Associations and Licensing

  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of California, #PSY8929
  • Practitioner Member, Academy of Family Mediators
  • Los Angeles County Psychological Association
  • American Psychological Association
  • Organizational Development Network
  • California Psychological Association
  • Association of Family Courts

Honors

  • Silver Psi Award for contributions to the California PsychologicalAssociation, including managing the rewriting of the Bylaws and PolicyManual, 2005.
  • Director, California Psychological Association, 2003-2005
  • Chair, Bylaws, Structure & Functions Committee, CPA, 2003-2005
  • Chair, Policy Manual Rewriting Committee, 2003 – 2005.
  • Co-Chair, Bylaws Rewriting Committee, CPA, 2003-2005
  • Co-Chair, Strategic Governance Policy Manual Committee, California Psychological Association, 2002-2003
  • Director, California Psychological Association, 2003-2005
  • Chair: Division of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, California Psychological Association, 2001-2002
  • Chair: Policy Governance Task Force, California Psychological Association, 2001
  • Editorial Board: Divorce Magazine, 1998-2000.
  • Editorial Consultant:  Family Process, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Archives of General Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 1987-1992.
  • UCLA Regents’ Fellowship, 1975-1980.
  • Fulbright Scholarship, 1975.

Publications

Strachan, A.M. (1999). Questions and Answers About Your Divorce. Divorce Magazine, Vol. 2 (4), p. 16.

Strachan, A.M. (1998). Questions and Answers About Your Divorce: Parenting Issues. Divorce Magazine, Vol. 2 (1), 40-41.

Strachan, A.M. (1998). Using Special Masters to Resolve Post-Divorce Conflicts. Family Law News and Review, Spring 16-17.

Goldstein, M.J., Strachan, A.M., & Wynne, L. C. (1997). Relational Problems Related to a Mental Disorder or General Medical Condition: a Comprehensive Review of the Expressed Emotion Literature and a proposal for relational disorders in DSM-IV. In DSM-IV Sourcebook, 3, Widiger, T.A. et al. (Eds.), American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C.

Strachan, A.M., Mason, M., & Wiland, H. (1997). Change Your Job • Change Your Life! A multimedia program, including a book, CD-ROM, and six-hour video series (on KCET and other PBS affiliates). Cyberschool, Los Angeles.

Strachan, A.M., & Lund, M.E. (1994). New Ethical Guidelines for Psychologists Performing Child Custody Evaluations. Family Law News and Review, 15 (3), 13-17.

Strachan, A.M., & Lund, M.E. (1994). Revised Ethical Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations. Los Angeles County Psychological Association News, Sept/Oct, 3-8.

Strachan, A.M., (1994). Do's and Don'ts for Psychologists working with divorce. Los Angeles County Psychological Association News, March/April, 1-3.

Randolph, E.T., Eth, S., Glynn, S.M., Paz, G.G.,Leong, G.B., Shaner, A.L., Strachan, A.M., Van Vort, W., Escobar, J.I., Liberman, R.P. (1994). Behavioural Family Management in Schizophrenia: Outcome from a clinic-based intervention. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 501-506.

Strachan, A.M., (1993). Working from home: everything you need to know about living and working under the same roof, by P. & S. Edwards : A review. Family Business Review, 4 (4), 456-458.

Strachan, A. M., (1992). Family Management. In R.P.Liberman (Ed.), Handbook of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MacMillan, New York.

Rea, M. M., Strachan, A.M., Goldstein, M. J., Falloon, I., & Hwang, S. (1991). Changes in patient coping style following individual and family treatment for schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 642 - 647.

Strachan, A.M. (1991). Family intervention for schizophrenia: Improving relatives' protection and patients' coping. In R.P. Liberman (Ed.), Rehabilitation of the Psychiatrically Disabled. New York: Plenum.

Sullivan, G., Wells, K.B., Leake, B., Strachan, A.M. & Morgenstern, H. (1991). Quality of life of seriously mentally ill persons in Mississippi: Clinical and policy implications. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 42(7), 752-755.

Glynn, S.M., Randolph, E.T., Eth, S., Paz, G.G., Leong, G.B., Shaner, A.L., & Strachan, A. (1990). Patient psychopathology and expressed emotion in schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 877-880.

Leff, J., Berkowitz, R., Shavit, A. Strachan, A., Glass, I., Vaughn, C. (1990). A Trial of Family Therapy versus a Relatives’ Group for Schizophrenia Two-Year Follow-up. British Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 571-577.

Cloke, K., et. al. (1989). A Training Manual for Beginning Mediators, Santa Monica, CA: Center for Dispute Resolution.

Miklowitz, D.J., Goldstein M.J., Doane, J.A., Nuechterlein K.H., Strachan, A.M, Snyder K.S., Magana-Amato, A., (1989). Is Expressed Emotion an Index of a Transactional Process? I. Parents’ Affective Style. Family Process, 28:153-167.

Strachan, A.M., Feingold, D. Goldstein M.J., Miklowitz D.J., Nuechterlein K.H. (1989). Is Expressed Emotion an Index of a Transactional Process? II. Patient’s Coping Style. Family Process, 28:169-181.

Cook, W.L., Strachan, A.M., Goldstein, M.J., & Miklowitz, D.J. (1989). Expressed emotion and reciprocal affective relationships in the families of disturbed adolescents. Family Process, 28, 337-348.

Doane, J.A., Miklowitz, D.J., Oranchak, E., Florez, de Apodaca, R., Kamo, M., Strachan, A.M., & Jenkins, J.H. (1989). Parental communication deviance and schizophrenia: A cross-cultural comparison of Mexican- and Anglo-Americans. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 98(4), 487-490.

Goldstein, M.J., Miklowitz, D.J., Strachan, A.M., Doane, J.A., Nuechterlein, K.H., & Feingold, D. (1989). Patterns of expressed emotion and patient coping styles that characterize the families of recent-onset schizophrenics. British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 107-111.

Leff, J., Berkowitz, R., Shavit, N., Strachan, A., Glass, I., & Vaughn, C. (1989). A trial of family therapy vs. a relatives group for schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 58-66.

Strachan, A.M. (1988). Consulting to family and larger systems: A review of "Systems Consultation." Contemporary Psychology, 33, 322-324.

Strachan, A.M. (1988). Expressed emotion in families: A review of Leff & Vaughan. Family Psychologist, 4, 14-15.

Goldstein, M.J., & Strachan, A.M. (1987). Schizophrenia and the family. In T. Jacob (Ed.), Family interaction and psychopathology: Theories methods, and findings. New York: Plenum Publishing, 481-508.

Cloke, K., Strachan, A.M. (1987). Mediation and pre-paid legal plans. In J.A. Lemmon (Ed.), New insights into family mediation. Mediation Quarterly, 18, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987, pp. 91-95.

Strachan, A. M. (1986). Family intervention for the rehabilitation of schizophrenia: Toward protection and coping. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 12, 678-698.

Strachan, A.M., Leff, J.P., Goldstein, M.J., Doane, J.A., & Burtt, C. (1986). Emotional attitudes and direct communication in the families of schizophrenics: A cross-national replication. British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 279-287.

Miklowitz, D.J., Strachan, A.M., Goldstein, M.J., Doane, J.A., Snyder, K.S., Hogarty, G.E., & Falloon, I.R.H. (1986). Expressed emotion and communication deviance in the families of schizophrenics. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 60-66.

Strachan, A.M., Goldstein, M.J., & Miklowitz, D.J. (1986). Do relatives express expressed emotion? In M.J. Goldstein, I. Hand, & K. Hahlweg (Eds.), Treatment of schizophrenia: Family assessment and intervention. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

Goldstein, M.J. & Strachan, A.M. (1986). The impact of family intervention programs on family communication and the short-term course of schizophrenia. In M.J. Goldstein, I. Hand, & K. Hahlweg (Eds.), Treatment of schizophrenia: Family assessment and intervention. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

Strachan, A.M. (1985). Family approaches to schizophrenia: Recent developments. In F.N. Watts (Ed.), New directions in clinical psychology. New York: Wiley, pp. 170-187.

Lund, M.E., Foy, D.R., Siprelle, R.C., & Strachan, A.M. (1984). The combat exposure scale: A systematic assessment of trauma in the Vietnam War. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40, 1323-1328.

Strachan, A.M. (1983). Family matters: An interview with John Cleese and Robin Skynner. Changes, 2(1), 4-7.

Strachan, A.M. & Jones, D. (1982). Changes in identification during adolescence: A personal construct theory approach. Journal of Personality Assessment, 46, 529-535.

Strachan, A.M. (1982). The focus, content, and style of dyadic communication in the families of adolescents at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (Doctoral dissertation, University of California at Los Angeles, 1981). Dissertation Abstracts International, 42, 2087B. (University Microfilm, No. 81-22, 858.)

Strachan, A.M. & Barker, C.B. (1981). Society for the Psychotherapy Research 1980 Conference Report, New Forum, 7(3), 57-59.

Strachan, A.M. & Shiffman, S. (1980). The prediction of therapeutic empathy in nonclinical psychologists. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Western Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 194 827).

Strachan, A.M., Welch, V.O., Barker, C.B., Compas, B., & Ferguson, M.L. (1980). A framework for training college-level teachers of psychology: Five basic processes. Teaching of Psychology, 7, 180-182.

Strachan, A.M. (1979). Communication Blocks. In Greening, T. & Hobson, D. (Eds.) Instant Relief, New York: Seaview Books.

Recent Presentations

Strachan, A. M., Hon. Joseph Hilberman & Mosten, F. S. (2006). Alternative DisputeResolution - Working Toward Peace. Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Strachan, A. M. (2005). Getting to the table: Strategies for Starting Special Master,Mediation and Co-Parenting. Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Lund M.E. & Strachan, A. M. (2005). Child custody evaluation. South Bay BarAssociation.

Lund, M. E. & Strachan, A. M. (2005). The Lund Child Custody Assessment: AStandardized Interactive Instrument for Children. Association of Family and ConciliationCourts, California Chapter Annual Conference, Sonoma, 2005.

Lund, M. E. & Strachan, A. M. (2005). The Lund Child Custody Assessment: AStandardized Interactive Instrument for Children. Close Relationships Interest Group,UCLA, 2005.

Strachan, A.M. (2005). Psychologists as Managers and Consultants: SolvingOrganizational and Team Challenges. California Psychological Association AnnualConference, Pasadena, California, 2005.

Lund, M. E. & Strachan, A. M. (2005). Assessing Children’s Feelings & Perceptions inDivorcing Families: A Validity Study of a New Child Assessment Instrument. Associationof Family Conciliation Court National Symposium on Child Custody Evaluations.Nashville, 2004.

Strachan, A.M. (2004). (Moderator). Making Court-Ordered Therapy Work in Family LawCases. LACPA-LACBA Annual conference, Los Angeles.

Strachan, A., and Lund, M. (2004).  Mental Illness and Divorce:  Research and Management.  Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts California Chapter Conference, Pasadena, CA.

Santa Monica Bar Association, Family Law Section: Special Masters, November 2002.

Salka, F., Ruffias, H., Rempel, S., & Strachan, A.M. (2000). How to Enhance Your Practice and Your Clients' Lives through Parent Education. Panel presentation, Annual Child Custody Colloquium, Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Strachan, A. (1999). Special Masters: Making it Work. Moderator and Presenter with Leslie Shear, Robert Beilin, and Matthew Sullivan, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Southwest Regional Conference, Newport Beach.

Kelly, Joan. (1997). Using Special Masters in Custody and Parenting Disputes. Moderator, Angus Strachan, Divorce and Family Therapy Specialists Symposium, Los Angeles.

Strachan, A. (1996). The Dynamics of Divorce. Invited lecture, Pepperdine University Psychology Department.

Strachan, A. (1995). Multiple Players, Multiple Roles: The Current Field of Divorce. Moderator and Presenter, Los Angeles County Psychological Association Annual Conference, with Forrest Mosten, Lisa Harris and Mary Lund.

Strachan, A., Mosten, F., Harris, L., Lund, M. (1994). Working in the Maelstrom of Divorce: New Roles for Psychologists. Workshop presented at the California Psychological Association Annual Conference, San Francisco.

Margolin, L., Lund, M.L., Strachan, A.M. & Karzen, A. (1994). A User's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations: Choosing from the New Menu. Divorce Family Therapy Specialists Symposium, Los Angeles.

Strachan, A., Mosten, F., Harris, L., Lund, M. (1993). Working in the Maelstrom of Divorce: New Roles for Psychologists. Workshop presented at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Annual Conference.

Lund, M., Strachan, A.M., & Cloke, K. (1991). The Psychologist as Mediator of Personal, Financial and Legal Conflicts. Workshop presented at California Psychological Association Annual Conference, San Diego.

Training

Domestic Violence Training
In compliance with California Rules of Court 1257.7

  • 12 hours – 1997
  • 4 hours – 1998
  • 4 hours – 1999
  • 4 hours – 2000
  • 4 hours – 2001
  • 4 hours – 2002
  • 4 hours – 2003
  • 4 hours – 2004
  • 4 hours – 2005
  • 4 hours - 2006

Custody Evaluation Training
In compliance with code 1257.4

  • 40 hours – 2002 and 2003

Training in Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse
In compliance with code 3110.5

  • 8 hours – 2003

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