Our Faculty
A. Steven Frankel, PhD, JD, ABPP
A.
Steven Frankel PhD, JD, ABPP (Clinical and Forensic),
is founding President and Curriculum Director of the Steve Frankel
Group (SFG). He is a Clinical Psychologist (PSY3354) and an Attorney at
Law (SBN192014), and is a Diplomate in both Clinical and Forensic
Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. He
earned his PhD at Indiana University, and interned at the Psychiatric Institute
of Columbia University. He then joined the full-time faculty of the University
of Southern California, where he served for eleven years, including five years
as the Chair of Clinical Psychology (Director of Clinical Training). Although
he is no longer full-time, he remains a Clinical Professor of Psychology at USC.
After leaving full-time university service, Dr. Frankel entered clinical practice, with both in- and outpatient responsibilities. Beginning in 1980, his psychology practice focused increasingly on the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic and dissociative disorders. He began consulting relationships with trauma treatment programs of private psychiatric hospitals in 1990. In 1993, he joined with Walter and Linda Young in the opening of a unit for the treatment of traumatic and dissociative disorders at Del Amo Hospital in Torrance, CA and remained a consultant to the program until July of 2000. An ISSD member since 1990 and Fellow since 1998, he was elected President of the ISSD for 2001-02.
Dr. Frankel began the practice of law upon graduation from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law. His legal practice is in health and administrative law. He represents healthcare professionals in their dealings with agencies like licensing boards and Medicare, as well as with their miscellaneous worries.
Dr. Frankel has always been committed to teaching, and has published over 50 articles and book chapters. He received the USC Award for Teaching Excellence early in his academic career. He was similarly honored by his state professional society some years later. He has continued to serve his teaching muse ever since. He has spoken at local, national and international conferences on trauma and dissociation and his full-day continuing education curriculum in law and ethics for mental health professionals (over 50 workshops/year) has earned him his latest Outstanding Teacher Award. An Adjunct Professor of Law at Golden Gate University School of Law, he has taught courses on healthcare policy, mental disorders and the law and regulation of healthcare practice.
Surviving a Licensing Board Action (1.5 hours)
Trauma and Dissociation: Assessment & Treatment (5 hrs)
Law, Ethics and Risk Management (6 hrs)
Forensic Assessment of Children (3 hrs)
Taught by Jacqueline Singer, PhD., and Steve Frankel, PhD., JD.Western States - Law, Ethics and Risk Management (6 Hrs)
A Guided Tour Through the Halls of Shame (1 Hr)
Law and Ethics - NGPHP1 (1 Hr)
Law and Ethics - NGPHP2 (1 Hr)
Law and Ethics - NGPHP3 (1 Hr)
Dancing with the Risks - CAPP (6 Hrs)
Dancing with the Risks - For Agencies (6 Hrs)
The Psychology of Trauma & PTSD (4 Hrs)
Borderline Personality Disorder (4 Hrs)
Risk Management with Trauma Survivors (6 Hrs)
Philip M. Stahl, PhD, ABPP
Philip M. Stahl, PhD, ABPP (Forensic) is Director of both the Forensic and Mentoring Programs for SFG. He is licensed as a Psychologist in in California (PSY10272), Arizona (3843), and Michigan (6301001615). He is in private practice in Arizona, conducting Child Custody evaluations and mediation, and providing consultation and expert witness testimony. Dr. Stahl is a provider of continuing education for psychologists and other mental health providers, as well as attorneys and Family Law Specialists in California. He has conducted trainings throughout the United States and internationally for child custody evaluators and others working with high-conflict families of divorce.
Dr. Stahl is on the faculty of National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and he has presented workshops for judges in Arizona, California (CJER), Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Utah. Judicial education topics have included a) child development and parenting plans; b) domestic violence issues and the impact of domestic violence on children; c) alienation of children and high conflict divorce; d) child custody evaluations and the use of experts in family law cases; e) personality disorders in family court; f) relocation in family court; and g) witness credibility and suggestibility of children. He was invited to speak to the Ohio Supreme Court committee considering changes to Ohio family law (2000) and to speak before the NY Commission on Family Law regarding custody evaluation practices (2005). A Board member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), he was on the task force that recently modified AFCC’s Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation (2006).
Dr. Stahl is on the Editorial Review Board of AFCC’s journal, Family Court Review and is Associate Editor of the Journal of Child Custody. Along with his teaching, Dr. Stahl has written extensively on various issues in high-conflict divorce and custody evaluations. He is the author of Conducting Child Custody Evaluations: A Comprehensive Guide (Sage, 1994), Complex Issues in Custody Evaluations (Sage, 1999), and Parenting After Divorce (Impact Publishers, 2000).
His custody evaluation was cited by the California Supreme Court in its landmark decision modifying 8 years of relocation case law following Burgess (In re Marriage of LaMusga (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1072, 12 Cal.Rptr.3d 356, 88 P.3d 81). For more information about Dr. Stahl or any of his books, please see his website at www.parentingafterdivorce.com.
High Conflict and Alienation (3.5 hrs)
Relocation Issues in Divorce (2 hrs)
2009 Domestic Violence Update for Custody Evaluators (4 hrs)
Risk Management and Ethical Issues for Custody Evaluators (6 hrs)
Psychological and Legal Issues for Custody Evaluators (2 hrs)
Forensic Assessment of Children (3 hrs)
Taught by Jacqueline Singer, PhD., and Steve Frankel, PhD., JD.2011 Custody Evaluator Update (8 Hrs)
2011 Domestic Violence Update (4 Hrs)
Adam D. Alban, PhD, JD
Adam D. Alban, PhD, JD, is a clinical psychologist (PSY21568) and attorney at law (SBN248546). He earned his MA and PhD from Michigan State University and interned at Western State Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Alban also has a law degree from American University's Washington College of Law. He is admitted to practice law throughout California.
Prior to moving to California, Dr. Alban practiced in Washington DC. While there he worked with adolescents, children, and their families throughout the District of Columbia on an individual basis, while also serving as a behavioral modification consultant to several schools. In addition, Dr. Alban functioned as a law clerk in the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health's General Counsel's office, where he worked at the nexus of law and mental health practice: crafting policy, drafting regulatory changes, authoring legislation, and advising practitioners.
Dr. Alban currently resides in San Francisco, where he has a clinical/forensic practice. His forensic practice focuses on advising professionals who have fiduciary responsibilities on how to best serve clientele with diminishing cognitive abilities.
Dr. Alban also has a law practice that focuses on helping his clientele to solve psychologically-related legal problems. The majority of his clients are healthcare practitioners who have the need for legal services and advice incidental to their professional responsibilities. A frequent contributor to professional newsletters and other publications designed to serve the practitioner community, he maintains a database of these and other articles at his website, www.ClinicalLawyer.com, an online resource for clinicians. Dr. Alban can be reached via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
John L. Fleer, PhD, JD
John L. Fleer, PhD, JD, is an attorney in private practice in Orinda, California. He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wyoming, and earned his law degree at the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He has been a trial lawyer for 28 years and has represented mental health providers, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals in civil trials and administrative disciplinary actions throughout California. Dr. Fleer has published articles and made presentations on mental health treatment, suicide, sexual harassment, and criminal offender rehabilitation. He has served as a judge pro tem, an arbitrator in civil lawsuits, and a hearing officer in hospital peer review proceedings. He has provided various continuing education and in-service lectures and newsletter articles on the legal regulation of mental health and medical services, psychotherapy ethics, sexual misconduct claims against professionals, litigation techniques, patient violence and patient rights. He has been a member of the California Academy of Attorneys for Health Care Professionals since 1998. Dr. Fleer can be reached via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Steven M. Sultanoff, PhD
Steven M. Sultanoff, PhD is a clinical psychologist (PSY8687), professional trainer, university professor (Pepperdine University), and consultant in private practice. Dr. Sultanoff has offered more than 300 live continuing education workshops, and is now providing online programs as a complement to his live programs. His live and online continuing education workshops include clinical supervision, humor in psychotherapy, emotional intelligence, and cognitive therapy. In addition to the over 25 years of supervising masters and doctoral level interns, he offers private training seminars for licensed therapists. He is recognized as a national expert in therapeutic uses of humor, and is a past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Dr. Sultanoff has authored numerous innovative articles advancing the field of therapeutic humor, as well as publishing a groundbreaking chapter on humor in psychotherapy in the psychology text Play Therapy with Adults. He is frequently quoted in the national media and maintains a web site (www.humormatters.com). Dr. Sultanoff appears on PBS several times a year demonstrating the humanistic model of therapy as part of an award winning program examining three approaches to therapy. Each of Dr. Sultanoff's supervision workshops includes a wide range of theory, technique, and practical application material and a thorough review of the regulations regarding supervising unlicensed professionals. He received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982, and has taught at San Francisco State University, California State University, Long Beach, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Merritt College, Vista College, St. Mary’s College, and worked in the counseling services at UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and the California State University Dominguez Hills. He maintains a private practice as a psychologist and consultant in Costa Mesa, California. In addition to providing psychological services, he offers continuing education programs on Humor in Psychotherapy and Mental Health Supervision for health and mental health professionals throughout California and across the United States. Dr. Sultanoff is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Masters Program in Psychology at Pepperdine University. For more information about Dr. Sultanoff or any of his books, please see his website at www.humormatters.com.
Foundations of Clinical Supervision - CA Version (6 hrs)
Foundations of Clinical Supervision - US Version (6 hrs)
Casey L. Truffo, MFT
Casey L. Truffo, MFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC32100) with a private practice in Irvine, California. She is an internationally recognized expert, author. and mentor coach to therapists on how to ethically and honestly earn a good living. Casey is an exciting and dynamic speaker in much demand, and has worked with thousands therapists on five continents. She is the author of Be A Wealthy Therapist: Finally, You Can Make a Living While Making a Difference (MP Press, 2007), and Beyond One to One Sessions: Multiple Streams of Therapy Income (to be released November 2009). She received her MS in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from California State University at Dominguez Hills in 1991, and founded the International Therapist Leadership Institute in 1994. Her mission is to support and enrich the lives and careers of therapists worldwide. An innovator in helping make the Internet more available to mental health professionals, Casey created Pink Spoon Marketing, and hosted the first Worldwide Therapist Leadership Virtual Conference in April 2009, with over a dozen of the greatest thought leaders in the field of psychotherapy presenting online. For more information about Casey or any of her books, please see her website at www.TherapistLeadershipInstitute.com.
Emberly C. Cross, JD, MSW
Emberly C. Cross, JD, MSW has been the Coordinating Attorney at the Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic in San Francisco, CA since 1996, helping domestic violence victims obtain restraining orders and child custody and support orders. She obtained her law degree and her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to working at CROC, she was in private practice in family law in San Francisco.
Before practicing law, she was on staff at the University of Michigan’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center in Ann Arbor, where she directed the sexual assault and dating violence crisis line and the sexual assault emergency response team on campus. She has served on the Board of Directors of W.O.M.A.N., Inc. in San Francisco, which provides a 24-hour crisis line and non-shelter based counseling to victims of domestic violence. She has volunteered with domestic violence and sexual assault crisis lines and emergency response teams in San Francisco and in Michigan. She is currently a member of the Advisory Committee of San Francisco SafeStart, a federal initiative to reduce the incidence and impact of violence on young children ages 0-6 and a member of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence’s Public Policy and Research Committee. She has been a co-chair of the Children Witnessing Domestic Violence subcommittee of the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence’s public policy committee, and a co-chair of San Francisco’s Domestic Violence Consortium. She conducts trainings on restraining orders and legislative updates in the Bay Area and throughout California.
Lawrence H. Hedges, PhD, ABPP
Lawrence H. Hedges, PhD, ABPP (Psychoanalysis) is a clinical psychologist (PSY3567) and psychoanalyst in private practice in Orange, California, specializing in the training of psychotherapists and psychoanalysts. He is the founder and director of the Listening Perspectives Study Center. He is also the founding director of the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute. He holds faculty appointments at the California Graduate Institute and the University of California, Irvine, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Hedges holds diplomas from The American Board of Professional Psychology and The American Board of Forensic Examiners. He is author of numerous papers and seminal books on the practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy that include Listening Perspectives in Psychotherapy, Interpreting the Countertransference, Facing the Challenge of Liability in Psychotherapy: Practicing Defensively, Therapists at Risk: Perils of the Intimacy of the Therapeutic Relationship, and Working the Organizing Experienc. For more information about Dr. Hedges or any of his books, please see his website at www.listeningperspectives.com
Jacqueline Singer, Ph.D.
Jacqueline Singer is a cum laude B.A. of The University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the California Professional School of Psychology. She completed pre- and post-doctoral internships at San Francisco’s Pacific Medical Center and Childrens’ Hospital. Her work as a psychologist has focused on children, adolescents and families, with positions at many of the Bay Area’s most prestigious programs. She maintains a practice in forensic psychology in Santa Rosa, California. She is the author of dozens of publications and has been an energized and effective teacher and mentor.
Forensic Assessment of Children (3 hrs)
Taught by Jacqueline Singer, PhD., and Steve Frankel, PhD., JD.
(Approved for Custody Evaluator Credits)
Ann Steiner, Ph.D., LMFT, CGP*, FAGPA*
Ann Steiner, Ph.D., LMFT, CGP*, FAGPA* earned her Ph.D. from the California Professional School of Psychology, Berkeley, did her pre and post-doctoral Fellowship at the Department of Psychiatry, SF, is licensed as a Marriage and Family Child Counselor (LM17115) and maintains a private practice in Lafayette, CA, where she works with adults, couples and groups. She served for 14 years as an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco Medical School, is on the Faculty of The Psychotherapy Institute, and is a Board Member and Fellow* of the American Group Psychotherapy Society. Dr. Steiner is a keynote speaker and presenter for professional and consumer organizations. She presents programs for national and international societies, such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the California Psychological Association, and the International Human Learning Resources Network. You can read her full biography here: Ann Steiner, Ph.D., LMFT, CGP, FAGPA. Please see her website at www.DrSteiner.net.
The Therapist's Professional Will (6 hrs) - Coming Soon
Taught by Ann Steiner, Ph.D., LMFT, CGP*, FAGPA
